Issue 421 October 2019 50p Are you ready? looms ... & Chippy looks to the future Parliament is in turmoil and , with the nation, awaits its fate, as the Mop Magic! Government plans to leave the EU on 31 October – Deal or No Deal. So where next? Is Chippy ready? It’s all now becoming real. Will supplies to Chippy’s shops and health services be disrupted? Will our townsfolk, used to being cut off in the snow, stock up just in case? Will our businesses be affected? Will our EU workers stay and feel secure? The News reports from around Chippy on uncertainty, contingency plans, but also some signs of optimism. Looking to the future – Brexit or not, a positive vision for Chippy awaits if everyone can work together on big growth at Tank Farm – but with the right balance of jobs, housing mix, and environmental sustainability for a 21st century Market town – and of course a solution to those HGV and traffic issues. Chipping Norton Town Council held a lively Town Hall meeting in September, urging the County Council leader, Ian Hudspeth into action to work with them. Lots more on Brexit, HGVs, and all this on pages 2-3. News & Features in this Issue • GCSE Results – Top School celebrates great results • Health update – GPs’ new urgent care & appoint- ment system • Cameron book launch – ‘’ • Chipping Norton Arts Festival – 5 October The Mop Fair hit town in • Oxfordshire 2050 – how will Chippy fit in? September – with everyone • Climate emergency – local action out having fun, while the traffic Plus all the Arts, Sports, Clubs, Schools and Letters went elsewhere. LOCAL NEWS

Brexit – is Chippy ready? As at late-September, Parliament is in turmoil and Brexit (‘deal’ or ‘no deal’) remains the plan. The Government also launched a £100m public campaign saying ‘Get Ready for Brexit’ (see www.gov.uk), aiming to reassure everyone over a possible ‘no deal’. The News Team looked at the situation more locally. Big business views are mixed. BMW, with their Oxford Mini supply to the UK with contingency plans in place – but watch plant, say a ‘no deal’ disruption could mean a two-week unpaid out for changes to the Pet Travel Scheme and allow at least leave shutdown from 31 October. But they still plan to start four months before travel for paperwork. Chippy’s major production of new E-Minis. The hospitality sector benefits a little from Bamford family, who own digger company overseas visitors enjoying a weaker pound. JCB (and much of Daylesford and But for them and the Social Care sector, EU ) are Brexit and Boris Johnson staff are important. Some local care homes supporters, and expect ‘no Brexit fallout’ – employ well over 50% of staff from the rest see Box below. Chippy’s largest employer, of the EU. Southerndown’s manager, Eli Owen Mumford, has international Solomon, herself from the EU, said that markets and factories here and elsewhere owners Barchester Homes keep everyone in Europe. Their annual report mentions informed and were handling any issues – ‘contingency plans’ for customers with few staff were leaving. Sainsbury’s UK over £3m of goods held in stock. Chippy’s boss warns that a ‘no deal’ Brexit on 31 Mash owner, Justin Alderslake, said some Brexit Ware, an example of British October could ‘significantly disrupt’ supply suppliers were going out of business and political pottery featured in CN Arts of food and Xmas toys to the UK. Low import costs were rising. However, he’s Festival this month price Aldi is less concerned about import feeling positive and is doing well with many regulars in his new problems, as over 77% of its sourcing is British – and they are Chippy café. His innovative events such as a fashion show on increasing that. 18 October at 7pm (tickets £10) all help strengthen his So, should Chippy consumers plan ahead? Locals business. Coping with uncertainty, Chippy estate agents always mention the run on bread supplies when the snow hits are more proactive than ever, pursuing buyers to keep houses town. Research reported nationally in August suggests one in selling at the right prices. Mike Kettlewell at Over Norton five people already have a food, drinks and medicine hoard Farm said farmers invest and operate ‘a long time line’ so worth £380! One cautious Chippy resident pointed to ‘the with Brexit uncertainty, they are used to hedging. Dairy real possibility of shortages in the coming months, so it is farmers may even like a price hike. Future tariffs, subsidy sensible to bring some purchases forward and to stock up, if changes and viability of small farms are issues. you can afford to do so’. That resident suggested early In town at Co-op Pharmacy, pharmacist Yasin Yussab stocking now might help reduce supply chain pressure when does not foresee many supply problems – apart from normal real shortages hit. Not surprisingly, they hoped that an non-Brexit delays. But like other pharmacies, with Brexit ‘irresponsible no deal’ is avoided – and maybe Brexit as well. looming and safety standards rising, new systems are needed Not everyone would agree. such as for the Falsified Medicines Directive. Scanner and Chippy and country await what happens next. Our local software costs are borne by the pharmacies – the rest by roundup suggests some uncertainty, but cautious optimism drug companies. Chippy’s Veterinary Hospital should be and readiness to ‘weather the storm’. See more useful advice OK – drugs for our furry friends are a Category 1 priority for via West Oxfordshire District Council website. JCB – ‘No fallout from Brexit’ JCB, the UK’s successful international ‘digger’ maker, is significant financial backing to Boris Johnson and the owned privately by one of Britain’s richest families, the Conservatives. The Bamford family has had around £120 Bamfords, whose main UK residence million in dividends in the last four years. is the nearby Daylesford estate. With The Chief Executive says that JCB Brexit looming, JCB has just ‘expected no fallout from Brexit as its announced a possible downturn in equipment, like aerospace goods, trades business – not through Brexit, but under global World Trade Organisation linked more to the global automotive rules’. More than one third of its recession. The Staffordshire-based bestselling back-hoe loader’s components maker of excavators, earthmovers are from the EU, but JCB said any new and farming equipment has more duty payable could be claimed back when than 10,000 staff and 11 of its 22 finished goods are sold back into Europe factories in the UK. It had record (28% of its business). The Daylesford results in 2018, with turnover over Boris Johnson at a JCB plant family businesses are well known locally £4 billion, but growth was now stalling in the Middle East, as both employers and investors – with Daylesford Organics Turkey, Latin America and India. shops plus considerable accommodation and letting Chairman, Sir , 73, is a fervent property investment (including the Wild Rabbit Inn) in supporter of Brexit and through JCB or privately, has given Kingham, Daylesford and locally.

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The Head singled out, as equally impressive, those students CNS gets ‘great GSCE results’ who have made huge progress since they joined from primary Students at Chipping school. Some stand-out names of those who have ‘gone from Norton School celebrated strength to strength’ included: Thomas Adams, Georgia what headteacher Barry Collins, Molly Day, Esme Knight, Esther Rathbone, Emma Reed, Doherty called ‘another Aimee Simson, Clementine Wesson, Tom Whitehead and Ellie great set of GCSE results’ Williams. Barry added, ‘the Governing Body and I wish to this year with excellent congratulate all our students for their success and also headline results – acknowledge their commitment and resilience during those improving across the board very demanding GCSE years. We wish to celebrate each on last year. Strong performances student, irrespective of individual grades, who can now sit saw 77% of students achieving a back and know they gave everything to securing their future Grade 4 to 9 in English and Maths with the best GCSE grades possible’. combined – 7% up on last year! For English grades, 70% were 7 to 9 (up 8%) and 61% of Maths (up 2%). OCC leader at packed Town Hall Science grades were also up. Further, On 16 September, Oxfordshire there was a continued fall in the gap County Council leader Ian between the achievements of Hudspeth braved the wrath of disadvantaged and all other students. Chippy Town Hall packed with The Head reported that, with standards rising markedly, some our Councillors and public. He stunning results saw at least nine grade 7 to 9s achieved by was grilled for an hour about Lola Burnett, Ella Castle, Amie Cooper, Erik Fledderus, Louis 20 years’ inaction on HGVs Flower, Charlie Hill, Holly Ibrahim, Keira Koch, Catriona and faced demands to work McCleery, Elliot Rux-Burton, Felix Webb and Miles Weedon. with the Town on planning Outstanding performances also saw at least five Grade 7 to 9 Chippy’s big growth. Town passes by Ethan Bissett, Beth Blackwell, Katie Blundell, Lily Councillor , Burnett, Maisie Frater, Jared Guzenda, Callum Hirst, Tristan who has led the summer Clean Air for Chippy campaign was Peissel, Lewis Pendery, Chloe Pierce, Zoe Robertson, Maya pleased with the excellent input from Councillors and public Salgado Swabey, Jonah Shaw, Abbie Slark, Evie Sokol, Dylan saying ‘I reckon he now knows we are serious about our Stovin-Bradford and Charlie Summers. planning and air pollution’. Mayor Don Davidson, applauded 50 years ago Town traffic and bypass plans Readers engrossed in Chippy’s current HGV issues might be currently proposed Link Road) would deal with A361 traffic. amused by the doings 50 years ago. Yes, HGVs and town centre Alan Brain gave the News Team the full-page Oxford Mail traffic was the big article from 1968 which includes the very clear map below of the issue. Perversely, preferred new route (thick black line) and options including the biggest event in taking the new road beyond the Common. The County Council 1969 was the said any new road would have to wait until between 1973 and widening of the 1978, as it would take ‘up to 10 years’ to get Ministry of top of New Street – Transport approval – so the final choice of options would have so that HGVs to wait (we’ve heard that a lot since!). Meanwhile, the County could come report said that ‘New St must be widened immediately’ even if through the Town a bypass was planned. easily. Local Perhaps not surprisingly history enthusiast Alan Brain lent the News this wonderful Chipping Norton picture of the moment work started to demolish the buildings in Borough Council the way – making way for a wider road (note the ‘Road Closed’ strongly opposed, and sign!), years of an empty ‘bomb site’ and eventually the ‘Inters’ narrowly voted against, supermarket store (now Sainsbury’s). If only they’d left it too the nearby bypass plan – narrow! because of disturbing More intriguingly, Oxfordshire County Council’s Highways the Town’s ‘finest views Committee had published their recommendations for a town and public walks and bypass – notably a Northern Relief Road to take the busy A44 farmland’. Councillors traffic (80% of which was ‘through traffic’) out of the town and local residents centre. The County Surveyor, a Mr Kenneth Summerfield, wanted the County to use the route past the Rollright Stones – preferred the option of a short road cutting from Road, Plus ça change, with no action – apart from helping more HGVs across Banbury Road via Over Norton Park and then through turn into New St. Also try googling ‘Chipping Norton Then and the Cleeves around the Castle site to the Worcester Road. A Now 1964’ for a wonderful gentle video of the town centre traffic possible later extension down to the Road (basically the curse back then.

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Cllr Hudspeth for coming and hearing first hand the Town’s Chippy’s growth – Working together – Turning to the concerns which Councillors have been raising for years. major housing growth planned for Chippy, the Town Council County’s failure to act – On HGVs, Cllr Hudspeth fear ‘little commuter boxes’ and no vision for what should be admitted that, 15 years since illegal air pollution was declared, a 21st century ‘Eco’ town with the right mix of housing, a stream of OCC plans for Chippy had not been employment and infrastructure investment. Cllr Hudspeth implemented, due to ‘lack of resources’. But Deputy Mayor mentioned OCC’s work on Eco-Bicester with ‘5000 homes Mark Walker and 5000 jobs). District Cllr Geoff Saul pointed out that OCC pointed out the owns 60% of the land up at Tank Farm. They could influence intended first what’s built and potentially find investment funds for step (a weight infrastructure (including a proper HGV solution). Passionate restriction, A44 input from Town Councillor Georgia Mazover and others downgrade, and suggested this was a great opportunity for the community to A40 reroute) lead, with OCC, on a visionary masterplan. Cllr Hudspeth said was costed at ‘we will lead all this’ but it appeared ‘WE’ meant him and the only £200,000 County Council. Pressed, he said input from the Town Council back in 2013. and community was important and meetings could be Other options, arranged – but our councillors didn’t seem convinced. Mayor such as the Davidson told the News he was ‘cautiously happy’ and about Pollution protesters at the Town Hall meeting Rollright route, the willingness to work with the Town Council on the Town’s had simply not been followed up, in spite of constant ‘tenacity’ plan – but not happy with lack of timescales and specific (to quote Ian) by County Cllr Hilary Biles and others action. Cllr Hudspeth ended saying that the Town Council including Chippy’s Traffic Committee Chair Cllr Jo Graves, should be the place for everyone to follow progress. who welcomed this chance for everyone to air their frustrations. The iconic air monitoring Black Box in the High Golden loo stolen St has apparently been ‘decommissioned’! District Cllr Laetisia Carter told the News, ‘The exasperation of residents There was an unusual and councillors was evident. Safety of the pathway for crime at Blenheim pedestrians, air quality and sheer volume of traffic, with no Palace on 14 September. benefit to our town, need to be addressed as a priority.’ An 18 carat gold toilet designed by artist Any glimmers of action? – With Chippy’s anger rising – Maurizio Cattelan and about climate change, air pollution, and town growth – will worth £1m, had been anything happen? Cllr Hudspeth was ‘prepared to work with installed as a visitor the Town on this’. In September there’s a new Chippy traffic attraction in a wood- survey, and Cllr Biles has a motion about Chippy’s HGVs on panelled chamber the County Council’s November agenda. There’s another opposite the room ‘Transport Plan’ coming up in 2020! OCC (and WODC) where Winston Churchill was born. The loo, named America officers will attend the Town Council’s Traffic Committee. There were promises to look at HGV signage and air and previously on show in New York, was plumbed in and pollution limits. Cllr Jo Graves told the News she welcomed visitors could both admire and use it. Thieves apparently all this, and along with Cllr Walker, she pointed to action ripped it out of the floor, causing much flooding and leaving a already happening on 20 mph limits. There are also safety big hole. It’s tempting to say police are ‘looking into it’ and issues down New St (see also letters). But Cllr Hudspeth ‘have nothing to go on’. But in fact they arrested a 66-year-old refused to give commitments to make a real difference. It was man. Has anyone in Chippy had their privy raided? all ‘difficult’. There were no promises of ‘what by when’. As Cllr Carter said, ‘the time for action is now! I hope the Royal Garden Party invite? commitment to work together and make some actions a At the request of the office of the Lord-Lieutenant of reality can now follow.’ Oxfordshire, Chipping Norton Mayor Don Davidson is inviting nominations (deadline 4 October) of individuals from CHARITY QUIZ the local Chipping Norton community whose services to the community merit an invitation to a Royal Garden Party in Friday 22 November 2020. This is a golden opportunity to thank people who put themselves out for the benefit of others. The following criteria Crown & Cushion are used: Diversity – guests should be drawn from as wide a 6.45pm for a 7pm start range as possible and should reflect Oxfordshire’s diversity especially thinking about women and ethnic minorities; Interval: light refreshments ~ Bar ~ Raffle Volunteering – particular consideration should be given to All profits to Katharine House Hospice nominating those who carry out public or volunteer work; to be matched by Barclays Bank PLC Beyond the call of duty – if the nominee is in paid Tables of six, tickets £7.50pp employment their nomination should be based on going Apply to Shirley Collings beyond the call of duty; Young people – who have made a 01608 238514/[email protected] special contribution to the lives of their communities. Self- nominations or nominations from members of a nominee’s

4 LOCAL NEWS family are discouraged. The Mayor may nominate a maximum of three people. Closing date for nominations is 4 October ‘Offbeat’ Chippy walking tour 2019. Please contact Janine Sparrowhawk, Town Clerk (tel: There is no shortage of ideas for a walking tour round 642341) for further information. Chipping Norton – including the recently developed History Trail that the News covered in the summer edition. Now a local children’s author and storyteller, Sean Callery, is Cameron – For the Record extending his series of offbeat Cotswolds walking tours to It’s out! After weeks of writing in that Shepherd’s hut in Dean one around Chippy; see www.offbeatcotswolds.com. Sean said, ‘Forget the media stereotype about the : Chippy is not bursting with politicians and journalists but boasts great stories, with at least one riot every hundred years and a place in British pop history. My walking tour takes you to where all these things happened and tells many tales of the history of this fantastic town.’ Forthcoming dates are 5 October, 2 November and 7 December – starting time is 10.30. Tours last 90 minutes and cost £12. They can be booked via the website. Sean is a Blue Badge Tourist Guide for the Heart of England, has lived in the Cotswolds for 30 years and says he loves sharing its stories and sights as a ‘teacher turned author turned tour guide’. He runs small group and private tours for individuals, families and groups – and ‘offbeat’ tours Patrick Neale with a copy of David of less-visited but still fascinating places full of surprises. As Cameron’s new book well as children’s books he has written a history of Oxford and a year’s delay (to avoid a clash with plus books on the history of Hook Norton and (soon!) a Teresa May’s Brexit negotiations last quirky guide to the Offbeat Cotswolds. year), ’s For the Record memoirs were finally launched on 19 th September. The inevitable scrutiny of the Happy 90 to Betty major television channels and the press followed – and Chipping Norton Honorary Citizen Betty Hicks celebrated interviews started revealing snippets to tempt the reader, her 90th birthday at a surprise party with all her friends and including controversial ‘blabbing’ of conversations with the Queen. Mr Cameron had been MP for Witney from 2001, leader of the Conservative party in 2005 and Prime Minister in 2010. The book covers a wide landscape of his career and time in office, but of course, one issue (like Iraq in Blair’s memoirs) haunts the story – Brexit. The problem of EU membership had been an ongoing debate within the Conservative party for many years. Mr Cameron had been determined to promote reform but remain within the EU. The decision to hold a referendum in 2016 turned into a long road to political turmoil when the electorate voted to leave. He explains how one-time friends fought against him (using some pretty strong language), his disappointment with the outcome and how events evolved afterwards. Mr family at Enstone Social Club on Sunday 22 September. Betty Cameron resigned as Prime Minister a few days later and then moved here in 1947 to work as a Land Girl, married Bill and quickly said goodbye to his Witney constituency – after having has been for years very involved in the Town with the promised to stay on as MP. Although he initially supported Women’s Section of the British Legion, the Country Market, Boris Johnson, his feelings and those of others have moved on. the Monday Club and many other Town organisations. The The proroguing of Parliament and withdrawal of the Whip News Team was invited to drop by and photograph Betty and from those trying to stop No Deal, have not gone down well. her cake, surrounded by three generations of her family and Does he have any regrets – well ‘Yes and No’, a bit like the many friends. She was awarded Honorary Citizenship by split in the Tories and the country. He still says calling the Mayor Mike Tysoe in 2015 for services to the Town. referendum was near ‘inevitable’ but he writes ‘my regrets about what had happened went deep. I knew then that they would never leave me. And they never have.’ The book runs to Over Norton November Fair over 700 pages. Is it a good read? (who The team organising the Over Norton November Fair are wrote an unauthorised Cameron biography looking for people who would like to have a stall in the Village mentioning notorious, much-denied pranks at university), was Hall on Sunday 17 November to sell or exhibit arts, crafts, impressed with the style, and said, ‘The prose is, gifts, cards, or anything really! This is an ideal time in the run- like him, smooth and efficient’. Patrick at Jaffé & Neale up to Christmas to sell or buy something different. There will Bookshop, which has signed copies for sale, told the News he’d be refreshments on sale and the Fair will run from 11am to started reading it, had also found it engaging and hadn’t given 4pm. Stalls/tables are available at £5 each. Please contact Jan up yet. Cliffe on 641057 or email [email protected].

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‘The Town Council formed a new working party for Climate Chippy climate change action Action. This group has already met to discuss the wording of Last month the News had a full feature an Emergency Declaration to make this relevant and reporting the summer campaign in accessible to our Council. This will be presented to the Chipping Norton on the climate Council in October with a list of suggested actions intended change emergency, which has kicked as a genuine call to action for the Council to inspire and off various projects and collective motivate positive change in our community.’ action. Marcus Simmons, with Education sessions for schools and youth groups – For colleagues from Transition Chipping a limited period (12 Sept–30 Nov), a local sponsor is funding Norton (TCN), has been leading much free activity sessions on Society and Sustainability by of this and he reports the latest progress: Learn2Sustain. Groups use resource packs to quickly learn A ‘Choices for Change’ Action+Learning meeting in roles of scientists, company bosses, politicians, Greta August discussed progress on fundraising, tree planting, a Thunberg and other campaigners, and prepare simple ‘pop-up refill stall’ and tips on plastic-free living. Also debated resources of their own. These groups then present their was the need to change our current ‘business as usual’ demands, and discuss issues for a way forward. They can be systems with non-violent direct action as a valid ethical and tailored for age groups between 8yrs to adult with options for practical response to promote a timely transformation. Many tackling ‘climate anxiety’ or other topics in more depth. For historical examples were highly controversial at the time (the details, email [email protected]. Suffragettes, Gandhi, the American Civil Rights Movement with Martin Luther King) but are now admired for principles Hats in the Orchard air and practical achievements. More details are at tiny.cc/tcnsyschange. It’s APPLE DAY at Chippy’s Community Orchard on Sunday 20 A local Chippy Extinction Rebellion group – linked to the October from noon–3pm. Wassail, national ‘system change’ movement – is being formed starting dance and sing to bless the trees and say thanks for the harvest. Music from Franglais – remember them at Blossom Day? Bring your children to join in various activities, your apples to press for juice and your appetites to enjoy seasonal refreshments. Have you visited the Pick Your Own? The Orchard is off the Worcester Road near the cemetery. Follow the signs and come and join in. For more information contact [email protected] tel: 643691.

A recent Extinction Rebellion protest in London with a ‘Redeclaration of Rebellion’ posted on the Town Hall doors, and an initial meeting ahead of the major October Rebellion in London. This could mean more non-violent direct action. The international School Strikes were a similar example. Though many individual TCN members support its aims, this Extinction Rebellion group will remain fully distinct from Transition Chipping Norton, which continues to focus on positive, practical ‘Solutions for Sustainable Communities’. A ‘Voice of the People’ meeting in September focussed on how Participative Democracy approaches, notably Citizens Assemblies, could tackle the difficult and divisive issues of our time – particularly given the current climate of divisive deadlock. Addressing Climate Emergency will involve major changes to how our lives work, perhaps more than we appreciate. Failure to take decisive steps to address the issues will result in even bigger ones! Rapid, deep transformations are hard, causing hardship and resentment if not perfectly planned and communicated. The idea of well-crafted Citizens Assemblies, their role in Chippy and nationally, and how we in Chippy can promote them, was debated. Town Council Declaration and action – As reported from their August meeting, Chipping Norton Town Council heard from a TCN member, agreed on the importance of action and adopted a short declaration recognising the emergency. In September, Cllr Sandra Coleman told the News

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repairs at the sports clubs in the first half of this financial Funding Anna’s treatment year. Many readers will have followed the story of Chippy’s 8-year-old Anna Drysdale and Sign up for a Tea Dance her battle with bone cancer of Would you like to join a Tea Dance to get in the mood for the last few years. The News Christmas? Chipping Norton Leisure Centre is planning one last reported how Anna had to be held in December. If successful, this could become a enjoyed a trip to the studios of regular event in 2020. To register your interest in taking part, TV’s The Voice and met the volunteering or helping with the dances please contact via stars, including Olly Murs (see email [email protected] or phone 01608 644412. picture). Her mother, Keeley, told the News that she is now All change at Whistlers in remission for the second Regulars at Chipping time but needs more Norton’s popular wine bar treatment. She said, ‘There has and bistro Whistlers were sad been so much love and support to say goodbye in August to from everyone, throughout Jane and Richard Main who, every fun-filled high and every after many years of hard heart-wrenching low. We have been so proud of Anna’s work, fun and hospitality, have courage and good humour and her endless capacity to help sold the business. Whistlers others despite everything she has endured. We need to take was opened by Vanessa Main her to New York for a targeted therapy treatment that she’s in 1999, and she passed the been approved for. It’s for the prevention of recurrence of baton to her brother Richard Osteosarcoma and it aims to provide long-term disease-free and his wife, Jane. They will still be around town to say hello survival. The treatment can’t be funded by the NHS and we to many old customers and good friends. In a message to all find ourselves in the difficult position of having to ask for help they said, ‘Whistlers will always hold a very special place in to fund it. We have set up a justgiving page for Anna – our hearts, for all the memories that it has given us and all the www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anna-drysdale – where joy that we have experienced over the years. Our lives you can read her story’. The PTA at Holy Trinity School are together were forged over 15 years ago and we feel so holding a general fundraising concert in the Town Hall on privileged to have met so many wonderful people in the Friday 18 October and on the night hope to help raise money course of owning Whistlers. We have been graced with to help Anna (see schools page 31). working with the best staff and having the support of the most wonderful people that live in our fantastic town’. Town Council spending plans The new owners of Whistlers are Nathan Phelps and Chipping Norton Town Council – at its Finance and General Kerry Foley, who told the News how excited they were at the Purposes Committee meeting on 29 August – agreed some chance to buy the business and move into Chippy which they more spending on items in the Town. First, outside the normal had fallen in love with, especially with a friendly welcome from ‘Grants to Voluntary Bodies’ process, was special financial the Town’s residents and local businesses. Nathan, who was support for the first ever Chipping Norton Arts Festival being originally brought up in Minster Lovell, is a top chef with a held on 5 October. The organisers are looking to crowdfund variety of experience. Chippy food fans may remember Le £4,750 and had asked the Town Council for a grant of £500. Chavignol in Horsefair back in the 1990s where Nathan The Committee agreed this and to waive the rent of the Town worked. Kerry met Nathan in her native Australia and has 1 now come over here to pursue this joint venture. The couple Hall for 1 /2 days, increasing the value of their contribution to £875. The deadline for normal applications for Grants to picked up running a busy Whistlers, keeping on the staff – and hopefully its loyal customers! We look forward to seeing how Voluntary Bodies was 25 September so hopefully other local Nathan and Kerry make their mark – and no doubt the News organisations needing funds have applied for a share of the pot. team will visit in the near future and report on what’s on offer The Council is running out of space to store the salt, salt and their future plans. spreaders, equipment and signage used at town events such as the Town Festival and Christmas in Chippy. Councillors agreed to spend around £2,200 on a refurbished shipping container, Great Rollright Bingo night to be sited at Greystones, to accommodate all this. Other Make a date for the next monthly bingo evening in Great new costs agreed were £350 for a secure cupboard in which Rollright Village Hall on Friday 18 October, raising more the new council ‘handyman’ could safely store products and money for the Village Hall, the Primary School and the Parish poisonous items, and also to buy him a workbench. Church development. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. The paving slabs at the War Memorial are a potential trip Games normally finish at 9.15 – so not too late for the hazard. The Royal British Legion received a quote for over younger ones and plenty of time to go out for the older ones! £5,000 for their replacement, and is asking the Town Council There is a bar, refreshments, a relaxed atmosphere, and to pay for materials, whilst the Legion foots the bill for the everyone is welcome – bring a group and have a laugh. Each labour costs. The Committee decided to seek one additional game pays out real cash prizes. The following events are 15 quote for comparison before going ahead. The Town Council November and 13 December. Eyes Down Look In! More info is also spending £4,435 on Town Hall doors and £6,087 on at [email protected].

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event is free but please call the Library on 643559 or email Penhurst finds its creative Mojo [email protected] to book a place. Creative Mojo, Sally Moore offering craft activities for the Changes to buses to Banbury elderly and adults Chippy bus users with learning and going to Banbury physical disabilities need to check and mental health timetables – issues, has now been there are new running for five years. 488/489 times Having already and routes since worked successfully 1 September. with Henry Cornish Stagecoach says Care Centre and The the aim is to Emma Polin who runs Creative Mojo in Old Prebendal in simplify the route Chipping Norton Shipton under Wych- and create more consistent and standardised hourly services. wood, Creative Mojo ran a craft exhibition at Penhurst In Chippy, buses going to Cornish Road now run via Gardens Care Home on 24 September featuring paintings Walterbush Road and not Churchill Road. Timings create a from gardens around the world. They offer group craft more even gap between departures to the town centre by S3 activities and specialise in creating bespoke classes for and 488. Wigginton and Tadmarton Road in Bloxham are no dementia residents. One testimonial regarding dementia longer served and South Newington only sees the 489 in reads, ‘This kind of activity … enhances the activities and early morning and early evening. However, Milcombe, Hook stimulation of Care Home residents. Having seen both Norton, Great Rollright and Over Norton gain a service parents struggle through dementia I can't recommend this to/from Chipping Norton School. Most departures from West highly enough’. Street to Banbury during the day are now at xx.40 and back Their tailor-made craft activities for care homes are fun, from Banbury at xx.40. The last bus from Banbury now leaves entertaining, rewarding, enjoyable and cost effective and, in much earlier at 17.45 (17.40 on Saturdays). The last bus from the case of the gardens project, the focus was to create Chippy at 18.50 (18.40 on Saturdays) is now a fast 489 but layouts taking particular elements of plants, animals or cultural does not serve Over Norton, Great Rollright and Hook references from guide graphics from four countries including Norton. There continues to be no service on Sundays. the vibrant colours of Morocco and Thailand. Each piece has elements produced by residents in the homes taking part and is then lovingly pieced together to form the final canvas displayed in the homes across the UK on their National Day Kim Wettergreen of Craft in Care Homes. Emma Polin, who covers Chippy for Creative Mojo, says, ‘it is so rewarding and encouraging to see people being brave and having a go, I am there every step of Bookkeeper/ the way to fully support, inspire and encourage; everyone is welcome to join in or watch the sessions the experience is so Accountant fulfilling for all’. Events at the Library Does your small business World Mental Health Day is on 10 October. Did you know need a bookkeeper/ that Oxfordshire Libraries offer a wide range of titles to help sleep problems, stress, low mood and anxiety? There are, of course, enormous benefits from simply reading for pleasure. accountant? Strong evidence links reading for pleasure with educational outcomes but the benefits go beyond this and stretch With over 20 years experience throughout a person’s life. Research finds that ‘reading for pleasure can result in increased empathy, improved and living locally, I am relationships with others, reductions in the symptoms of depression and dementia, and improved wellbeing’, according available for 20 hours per week to the Reading Agency. So why not drop by and find out about our Reading Well for Mental Health collections or visit – all or part thereof. www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/libraries? Library favourite, Alan Brain, will be at the Library for the Please contact me on: second part of his wonderful local history talk, ‘Chipping Norton from 1895 to 1970’. The talk is on Thursday 7 [email protected] November 6.30-7.30pm. Alan will take us through a century in the life of Chipping Norton, starting in 1895, showing his or 079 405 376 20 fascinating collection of photographs and memorabilia. The

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Timetable leaflets are normally available on the buses or on start at 7.30pm; tickets £5. To book ring Jackie on 01608 the Stagecoachbus website. 659903 or email [email protected]. Xmas Shoe Box appeal Chippy’s Got Talent It’s that time of year again – to get involved in the Shoe Box The Friends of St Appeal as part of Teams4U. The charity is already well Mary’s Church, supported by many local people but maybe this year you Chipping Norton, are would like to be part of presenting a ‘Chippy’s it. It’s very simple: you Got Talent’ concert choose an empty shoe evening in St Mary’s Church on Saturday 19 box, cover it in October at 7.30pm. Admission on the door £5 Christmas wrapping adult / £10 per family. Refreshments available. paper, then decide Come along and enjoy the variety of Talent on offer in our Town. Car park for Rollright Stones whether you want to Towards the end of the summer holidays Trustees at the choose small gifts for a Rollright Stones received the news that Kings Stone farm girl or a boy (choose ages owned by the Haine family (who also own the Kings Stone 3–5, 6–11 or 12) or a Enclosure), would be going up home box for a family. After that, you fill your shoebox with for sale and the Rollright Trust small items suitable for the receiver. Suggestions are given on were offered the opportunity the leaflet. You could put in small toys, cars, yo-yo, a ball, teddy to purchase the Kings Stone bear, etc – or educational supplies like pens, crayons, paper, enclosure plus a part of the etc. Hygiene items are also welcome, like soap, toothbrush, adjoining field. Trustee and Site flannel, etc. Finally, you could put in a hat, gloves, scarf, Warden Robin Smitten said, necklace, etc. Sweets and chocolate are welcome but make ‘We could not say no! As we sure the sell-by date is at least March 2020. Please do not go to press, the wheels are include any items that are war related, fragile or dangerous. well advanced to complete the Books are not a good idea as they may be sent to children purchase early in October.’ who cannot read English. Once you have filled the box you are This opens up a raft of asked to donate a minimum of £2.50 towards delivery. opportunities to the Trust More guidance is given in the leaflets which can be especially to be able to obtained from Martin Hannant, 72 Churchill Road, Chipping manage and preserve the Norton, 643653 or [email protected]. There are complete monument complex Kings Stone with Hale Bopp some in CN Library and the Methodist Church. Boxes need as a whole plus a chance to photo: Shaun Skeets to be returned by Sunday 3 November. Martin will collect, if investigate and report the archaeology and make a more asked, or they can be dropped off at Holy Trinity School in comprehensive experience for our many visitors and school hours or CN Methodist Church at a Wednesday coffee supporters. The acquisition will allow Trustees to develop, morning 9.30-11.30am. Last year about 51,315 shoe boxes amongst other things, a Cotswold limestone grass meadow were sent from Teams4U from UK to children and families in and much needed car park area. Maintenance to the fencing Eastern Europe. Often this is the only Christmas gift they get, has been completed and, by the end of October, visitors will so why not help and make a contribution and make a child see the damaged pathways renovated back to their smooth really happy. It shows the child that someone really cares original appearance. Robin added ‘continued high visitor about them. Learn more about the charity on their website – numbers again combined with the successful events we have teams4u.com. Thank you so much for all your help. held show how popular the Rollright Stones have become and Martin Hannant are one of Chipping Norton’s most important assets. The acquisition of the Kings Stone and extra land opens up a Movies in Churchill whole new chapter for the Trust, a challenge we all look The next film at Screen by the Green on Friday 11 October forward to with vigour’. is All is True. In this impressively cast and beautifully filmed movie, Kenneth Branagh both directs and stars with great Join Xmas singers at the Stones sympathy as William Shakespeare in his later days. The year is Volunteer singers are being invited to join in on a Christmas 1613 and Will sees his Globe theatre burned down and event at the Rollright Stones. Simon Kemp, the conductor of returns to Stratford to deal with his troubled past and a the Stratford Festival Orchestra in conjunction with the neglected family. Judi Dench plays his wearied wife, Anne Rollright Trust, is planning to hold a night of Seasonal Singing Hathaway. Ian McKellen contributes splendidly as the ageing at the Rollright Stones on Friday 13 December. This will Earl of Southampton. The film is neither a romp nor a fawning include a torchlight procession from the Whispering Knights tribute, both of which it might have been. Rather, Branagh to the main event at the Kings Men (the stone circle). For this captures the internal life of an ageing genius – getting past the exciting event he is hoping to entice enough individuals who star to find a flawed and touchingly human man inside. All films would like the challenge of being trained up over a 10-week

9 LOCAL NEWS period to form a large, high quality choir for the evening. Chipping Norton Road and caravan site. Views expressed at Practice to take place weekly in Chipping Norton and each the meeting will be passed on to the planning officers at West session to cost just £5 per person or a £45 one-off payment Oxfordshire District Council for their consideration in – all ages, no previous experience required. Please contact making decisions about whether these proposals can go [email protected] for details or to register for the ahead as currently planned. choir. ‘Doing our bit’ to reduce plastics – There are now two metal mesh containers inside the wall of Chadlington’s village Chadlington news hall, next to the car park. These have been installed, with the New picnic benches – At last, Chadlington residents and agreement of the Parish Council, by a local resident who is visitors have somewhere concerned that the village ‘does its bit’ in trying to reduce our more comfortable to sit on use of plastic by reusing and recycling items made of this The Stocks green to admire material as much as possible. Residents are being encouraged the view, take tea or enjoy an to drop off plastics, garden pots and seed trays or plastic ice cream! Thanks to the household items, such as buckets, watering cans etc. when you generosity of Alison and no longer need them. Also, they can take away any items that Roger Saunders, there are have been left that will save them buying new ones. now two new picnic benches Future of the Methodist Chapel – the Chadlington in place of the sadly building, which is now sadly closed for worship, will be dilapidated ones. The Parish discussed at a Council were very pleased Methodist Circuit when the Saunders came meeting in October. forward with this kind Four local residents donation, so that the new (Lyndsay Winpenny, benches could be bought for Claire Bradshaw, Zoë the village. Alison and Roger are pictured here with Parish Townsend and Nina Council Chairman, Howard Rowley, with the first tea and cake Morgan) would like to to be eaten at the bench, kindly supplied by Café de la Post see the building ‘saved’ and the village’s doyenne of fine baking – Susan Myatt. for community use Busy Parish Council meeting – Parish Councillors and met in August to worked their way through a full agenda at their September put together a proposal for its future use as a community hub. meeting, aided by County and District Councillors and If you would like to be kept abreast of developments – members of the public. Councillors reported on plans for a without any obligation to actually do anything at this stage – new car park at the Village Hall, the future of the Methodist please email your name and email address to Chapel, ensuring that all footpaths are properly recorded, [email protected] and you will be added to the installation of fibre broadband cable and three new public mailing list to keep you informed. benches in the village. There was also discussion of a number of planning applications, including a new house on Bull Hill and Lawrence Team update the proposed lambing shed/farm shop north west of Chipping The Lawrence Home Nursing Team would like to thank Norton Road. Councillors sought reassurance that the design friends and supporters who have fundraised this summer of the new house should be in keeping with the surrounding including the family of Robin Perry, Carly Halls and family, landscape and existing housing and were concerned that the Sarah Darnell, Dawn and the Charlbury ladies who continue suggested access to the farm shop was too close to the busy to support the Team’s efforts. Thank you to the following pubs who have supported our restaurant scheme this summer: The Crown at Church Enstone, The Kings Arms, Chipping Norton, and The Salford Inn. Tickets for the 20th anniversary fundraiser at Ditchley Park, on Saturday 14 December are now on sale at www.lawrencehomenursing.org or call 01608 684475. Demand for tickets is expected to be high, so please don’t miss out on this prestigious event with celebrated actors, Alison Steadman and Mark Gatiss, reading from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol followed by carol singing led by choir, Eight- in-a-Bar. The Team hope to announce the participation of two special guests by the time you read this. Please visit the website for more details. Stop Press: The Lawrence Team is recruiting for the post of part-time Operations Officer (20 hours per week). Please visit the website (see above) for more details and email [email protected] and Verity Fifer at [email protected] with your CV and a covering letter if you are interested in applying. Verity Fifer

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Changes at Kingham Plough Boyzhome in Chippy? Local foodie pub and restaurant, the ‘The Chipping Norton Set’ Kingham Plough, recently saw Matt started off the media interest and Katie Beamish take over as new some years back and now owners, following on from award- there is a steady stream of winning Emily Watkins. The couple celebrities moving to live in say they ‘aren’t about to change a villages around here – keeping great deal of the format that has the national newshounds made The Kingham Plough such a interested. Victoria and David renowned destination’. Instead, they Beckham make no secret of aim to create ‘a real community hub living close to Soho Farmhouse for locals whilst offering visitors from whilst Sir Patrick Stewart is a further afield a restorative, rural escape’ Some changes well known resident of Little Can you spot Ronan in a announced do include new chef Jonny Ponds (ex-Feathered Tew. But what about Jack supermarket? Nest) who is making his mark and championing local artisan Savoretti? Is he also a resident of Little Tew? And is it true that products and sources. The flagstoned bar and restaurant have Boyzone boyband veteran Ronan Keating is setting up his been refurbished, there’s a quiet outside terrace, and upstairs boyzhome in Swerford? The rumour mill says yes, although there are now six luxuriously furnished en-suite rooms. earlier in the year a move to Australia was mentioned. He is a few years too late to use Chipping Norton’s famous old Kings Head accolade Recording Studios – which had, amongst others, Take That In other local pub news, The Kings Head in Bledington, run by members visiting. David Beckham was happy to have his photo Nicola & Archie Orr-Ewing has won this year’s category award taken in the Banbury branch of B & Q when he went on a DIY of ‘Inn of The Year’ by the Good Pub Guide. The guide, now in shopping expedition so keep your eyes peeled for Ronan its 38th edition, features around 5,000 pubs across the UK. doing the weekly shop in a supermarket near you! The origins and traditions of Halloween At the end of October, Chipping Norton (and the wider world) marks three connected events with a similar heritage but very different current traditions – from Druids to Christianity. More than 2000 years ago, The Celts, living in the British progress to the telling of ghost stories, Isles and North West France, celebrated their New Year on mischief-making then in 1880s America a 1 November, marking the end of summer and harvest and community holiday and the start of trick the beginning of the darker, colder days of winter. The night or treating. before, on 31 October, the ancient Samhain festival was celebrated when it was also believed the ghosts of the dead Local Events & Services returned to earth to cause trouble and mischief. The Celtic The ‘Watchers of the Old Ways’ will be priests, known as Druids, built sacred bonfires and the up at the Rollright Stones to hold a peopled burnt crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic Samhain ceremony on Saturday 26 deities. They wore animal heads and skins and attempted to October 2-3.30pm predict the future. Afterwards, their hearth fires were relit from the sacred bonfire as protection Chipping Norton Community Church during the coming winter. All Saints hold a Light Party on Wednesday 30 Day on 1 November comes from the October. 4-5.30pm at Glyme Hall. Bring 9th Century when Christianity had and share party food. Fancy dress as spread throughout the Celtic lands. In anything bright and happy. Messy play, toys, games and a film 609 AD Pope Boniface dedicated for older siblings. Plus coffee and cake for adults. All free. Rome’s Pantheon to all Christian Hosted by Little Footsteps and Community Church. email: martyrs. Saints came later, all to be [email protected] with name of any child (approx remembered on All Saints Day. Celebrations were similar to 4-10 years old) wanting to go. Samhain, with bonfires, parades and costumes. An alternative St Mary's Church (CofE) Chipping Norton hold their annual name, All Hallows (from the middle English Alhollownesse) All Souls Service on Sunday 3 November at 3pm, followed thus saw the night before, eventually becoming Halloween. by tea and cakes. Would people who wish to have the names All Souls' Day is usually on 2 November directly following of loved ones read out, send them to Emma Bayley in the All Saints' Day, with Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic Church Office: office@stmaryscnorton / 01608 646202). churches commemorating the faithful departed and their souls in purgatory. A 7/8th century AD prayer The Office of Holy Trinity Church (RC) Chipping Norton have a Vigil Mass the Dead is read out. Hence Hallowe’en – the night before, for Halloween 7pm on 31 Oct, All Saints Day Mass at on 31 October – saw, over the centuries, the combination 9.15am on Friday 1 Nov and All Souls Day Mass Saturday 2 of religious ceremonies and pagan and Celtic festivals Nov – details TBC (see Church Newsletter nearer the time.)

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Katharine House’s plea to PM … and support the Skydivers! A team from our local To raise funds for charity Katharine Katharine House House Hospice holds Hospice a team something of a record, from Chipping being the first guests of Norton’s Blue Boar Boris Johnson at No – Kirsty, James and 10. They discussed the Nicola – are funding crisis facing the braving the fall and country’s end-of-life will be skydiving in care providers. The an attempt to raise Prime Minister has £1200 to donate to the fantastic work and palliative care of since vowed to inject our local hospice. Kirsty told the News, ‘Our jumping date will an additional £25m of be Sunday 29 September and we would be extremely grateful funding into English for any donations you would like to make to this incredible hospices. Hospice chief executive, Angharad Orchard, said, charity to help us achieve our goal. If you would like to make ‘We were delighted to talk directly to Mr Johnson and we a donation, you can donate online on our JustGiving page or welcome his commitment to review hospice funding more directly at the Blue Boar. Links can be found on our facebook strategically in the coming months. The current funding model page. Thank you for your generosity!’ is inherently unsustainable and urgently needs to be reviewed at a national level to ensure that we can continue to provide care’. She added, ‘We rely on our community to provide 75% St Andrew’s Great Rollright of our funding and are very lucky that they have been our October is going to be a busy month for everyone at St champions for 25 years. We are so grateful for their support Andrew’s Church in Great Rollright as they celebrate the and we know they will continue to go above and beyond to ministry of Revd Wendy Cunningham who is retiring at the support us in these challenging times. Government funding of end of the month. Bishop Colin, the Bishop of Dorchester, is hospices across the UK varies significantly from 20% to 70%, leading a special service of Holy Communion in St Peter’s with Katharine House receiving just 24% last year. It faces a Church, Hook Norton, on Sunday 13 October at 10am. budgeted deficit of £435,000 in 2019/20. You can visit Wendy will be leading her final service at St Andrew’s on Chipping Norton’s Katharine House shop at 8 West Street to Sunday 29 October. This will be the 8am Holy Communion find out more and support the cause. and will be followed by a further service of thanksgiving in St

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Peter’s at 10am the same day. Do come and join in at one of these events. Bryncoch Male Voice Choir Before all that, Sunday 6 October is Harvest Festival with Chippy Town Hall will welcome, on Saturday 19 October at a service of Holy Communion at 10am. See the Facebook 7pm, a concert by the Bryncoch Male Voice Choir with the page or find more on www.hooknortonbenefice.org.uk. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) Band and featuring Daisy Bartlett, who Sarah Durham won the Methodist Bicentenary Trophy at the CN Music Festival this year. The concert is being hosted by the local Methodist Church – admission by programme at the door, MP visits the Green Gym suggested donation £5. Local MP Robert Courts, with no need to be in London at a ‘prorogued’ Wheelchair for Chippy’s Ethan Parliament, has been Thanks to CHIPS Charity and taking the chance to get the joint fundraising efforts of out and about around his customers and staff at Cashino constituency in his ‘annual Oxford, Chipping Norton volunteer week’. He has resident 11-year-old Ethan visited a whole range of Brown has been presented with local groups and a brand new wheelchair. The commented in his ecstatic Year 7 schoolboy said it Newsletter on ‘all the will give him more independence MP Robert Courts helped at the good work done by so and the ability to self-propel Green Gym in September many volunteers to without tiring as easily. Cashino, improve our local communities and the lives of so many a national adult gaming company, across West Oxfordshire’. Included was a visit to ‘volunteer’ is one of the main fundraisers for a session with Chippy’s Green Gym – an independent for CHIPS – a charity set up on community group that works on environmental conservation behalf of the gaming industry projects locally. The group is free to join and meets weekly. providing specialised wheel- He said, ‘It was great to get stuck right in and help the team chairs for children with severe remove bramble and clear paths at the Fitzalan Wood – a new mobility problems. Ethan, who Ethan with his mum acre of wood with 400 trees planted and maintained by the lives with his mother Natasha, Natasha (left) and Linda Gym. The group does superb community work, improving the sister Alyssa and twin brother Lindsay of CHIPS local area and the biodiversity of our rural area. I would Vincent, suffers from spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, a encourage anyone interested to join’. See neurological condition that permanently affects muscle control www.chippygreengym.org and Clubs report p27. In visits to and coordination. Natasha said, ‘This new powered wheelchair other local towns and villages, our MP joined The Wychwood will mean Ethan can travel a lot further without assistance, Project for a session at Foxburrow Wood installing giving him the independence any 11-year-old wants. We’re so fenceposts. He also talked to sixthformers in Woodstock thankful for this wheelchair; it will really make a difference to about their concerns on climate change (see page 6 for a Ethan’s life, and ours.’ A co-founder of CHIPS charity, Linda Chippy climate change update) Lindsay, said, ‘It is so important for CHIPS that our donors see the results of their hard work, and we try to ensure that all the 35 years of coffee mornings! recipients are local to where the funds have been raised’. Cashino and parent company Praesepe have donated £1.2 On Wednesday 2 October Chipping million, allowing CHIPS to provide more than 150 wheelchairs Norton Methodist Church will be up and down the country. In total, CHIPS has raised more than celebrating 35 years of coffee mornings – £2.2 million to date and presented over 520 wheelchairs to serving free refreshments throughout the children throughout the UK. morning and being joined by the team of bakers and helpers as well as supporters old and new. Everyone is welcome. Elaine ‘Brighter future’ for Hospice Parsons told the News they are also looking forward to The Oxford hospice charity, Helen & Sunday 24 November at 11am, when Ada Cooper will lead a Douglas House, has many Chipping Church service to help celebrate the past 35 years and the Norton supporters – particularly future. Refreshments will be served before the service at through its local West Street shop. The 10.30am. As part of future plans, the Coffee Morning Team has Charity has just released its final results decided to take small steps towards using less plastic. They are – and is predicting a brighter future asking customers to bring their own containers for cakes, if after a tough year when it had to get its finances in order. The possible, and pennies from the penny pot will used to buy latest 2018/9 year saw a surplus of £0.53 million after a paper bags. Every little step helps! previous yearly loss of £2.42 million in 2017/18 and previous On Wednesday 9 October the coffee morning from 9.30- deficits. A major cost-cutting exercise, including redundancies 11.30 in the Lower Hall, will raise money for Open Doors a and the closure of the adult care service at Douglas House, charity supporting persecuted Christians and on Sunday 6 was undertaken after donations had dropped. The charity is October there’s Cuppa, Cake & Chat 2.30-4pm with WOWI, who now focusing on its primary original purpose which provides are marking the first anniversary of these popular afternoons. outstanding, comforting hospice and palliative care for

13 LOCAL NEWS terminally ill babies and children with their families. The charity is working with another health provider to make use Southerndown’s CQC rating of the Douglas House building. The staff at Southerndown Care Home in Chipping Norton Fundraising events, such as the hospice’s new Bubble celebrated the results of their recent CQC (Care Quality Rush in Cutteslowe Park and its iconic Santas on the Run Commission) inspection, which gave them an overall ‘Good’ event, raise thousands of pounds annually for its specialist together with an ‘Outstanding’ rating for care. Southerndown care provision. The hospice has the support of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, a patron of the charity, and local MPs including Anneliese Dodds, Layla Moran and Victoria Prentis. Last year Helen & Douglas House looked after 286 children and young adults and received donations from almost 10,000 supporters. There was a 4% dip in donations but a 41% rise in legacies (donations left in wills.) However, the charity has stressed that 85% of its costs rely on public support. It costs £265k per month for the hospice to provide care, family and bereavement support to children and their loved ones. Anyone who wants to support this very worthwhile charity please visit hdh.org.uk and/or go the Chippy shop and pick up a bargain!

Anniversary for Purple Haze Care Home, part of the Barchester Health Care Group, is On 11 October, Chipping Norton’s situated in the beautiful countryside, at the edge of Chipping one and only specialist Vaping shop – Norton. Stacey Davies from Southerndown wrote, ‘The Purple Haze on the High Street – is emphasis is always on Care and Home. Residents are cared celebrating one year since its opening for in all senses of the word and every effort is made to in town. Director and owner ensure that they see the home as their home and their Caroline King told the News, ‘We are families very much consider Southerndown a home from having an open day to celebrate the home. The dedicated staff work hard to maintain the highest 100s of people in and around of standards without ever losing the personal touch. Chipping Norton we have helped Residents and their families are considered and treated as give up smoking and will have coffee friends’. The manager, Ela Solomon, and her team are always and cake and a free prize with every available to deal with enquiries from people looking for a purchase. It would be lovely to see as home for their loved ones or if residents and relatives have many people here as possible so I am anything they wish to discuss. Part of the support given is trying to get the message out to regular meetings, especially for relatives whose family everyone!’ member has dementia. Given that dementia now affects directly or indirectly many families, Deena Heaney, Family History Fair Barchester’s Dementia Health Care Specialist will be giving a Have you tried investigating your local family history? Try this talk on 23 October at 11am. All are welcome to attend. Look fair on 5 October, 10am-4pm at Marlborough School, out for Southerndown’s regular leaflets dropping though your Woodstock, OX20 1LP. Get help with your research, letter box advertising their Open Days and remember that particularly in Oxfordshire but also in other counties. A anyone who wishes to view the home is welcome at any time. variety of subject experts will be present. Browse and buy books, CDs, maps and materials from specialist companies – ‘Masses of information and useful charts, maps, merchandise. Great help and advice especially from Oxfordshire Record Travel is so personal that at Office and British Genealogical Society’ said one visitor last Travel Counsellors, we believe year. Refreshments available until 3pm. everybody deserves their own www.news.ofhs.org.uk/fair. Free entry and parking. expert. Chipping Norton Museum also holds various very useful items for people who are researching their family history. So if you’re looking for a holiday Museum Curator, Pauline Watkins has sent the following to remember – and a personal information to the News: ‘We have Parish Registers of births, service you won’t find anywhere marriages and deaths; these are on microfiche and the else – I’d be happy to help computer. We have census returns and a large card index of Adele Lootes various surnames bequeathed to us by the late Rev Ralph Travel Counsellor Mann. There is a large number of surnames that have been 01608 880 006 researched previously which can be accessed. We have a [email protected] number of wills that have been transcribed. We can also offer www.travelcounsellors.com/adele.lootes help’. For further details contact Pauline on 641712 or email [email protected].

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Police and Community safety The News hears this month from our Fire Station, our MP on Police resources, local police alerts from our Neighbourhood police team and latest crime statistics Chipping Norton Fire Station will begin to consult on its contents. Law and order is one of my key priorities as your MP, and I hope you would agree September has seen 12 callouts in these are important, positive steps. I look forward to Chipping Norton for our crews; one of discussing them in detail with Thames Valley Police at the next these being a washing machine fire, where of our regular catch-up meetings. thankfully due to a working smoke alarm and the prompt actions by the occupier, crews were able to quickly respond and Local Chippy police alerts deal with the incident. I would like to take Caravan theft – Just after midnight on this opportunity to advise everyone that 28 August, a caravan was stolen from a now that Autumn is all but upon us, to get driveway on Walterbush Road, Chipping their chimneys swept ready for the winter ahead. For further Norton. The offenders hitched the information and specific advice please visit our 365alive caravan to their own vehicle and sped off website and our ‘Get it Swept’ campaign. Please remember to towards Burford Road and the town keep safe and to test your smoke alarms regularly. centre. If you have any information, please Simon Sumners contact police on 101 and quote crime reference 43190265101. Police report there was another attempt to steal a caravan in the Over Our MP’s focus on policing Norton area. MP Robert Courts told the News, ‘One issue that is frequently Damage to vehicles – At approximately 9.45pm on raised with me is law and order, and policing. Everybody, all Wednesday 28 August, several vehicles were damaged on across the country, wants to feel secure and safe in their Churchill Road. Police believe one person was responsible in homes and communities and as they go about their business. We are lucky here to have an excellent police force in Thames damaging wing mirrors and wiper blades on parked vehicles. Valley Police which has some of the country’s most Did you see or hear anything? Please call 101 and quote 43190268568 Number plate thefts – have been reported in the Enstone area. Put simply, number plates are stolen to disguise criminals’ own cars, or cars they plan to use for criminal purposes. Screw – don’t stick – number plates on, ideally with locking screws. If you do wake up to find your car’s number plates have been stolen then you must report the theft to the police as well as your insurance company, get and keep a crime number in case. Telephone scams – Police have received multiple reports regarding a number of telephone scams circulating in the Chipping Norton area. Two latest ones are scammers claiming your internet is being cut off for non-payment (call your internet provide separately) and scammers (as ‘police’) MP Robert Courts spent some time out on patrol with Thames wanting to visit to talk about security and safety (ask for Valley Police in September shoulder ID numbers and inform police via 101). professional officers, but the Government recognises that more needs to be done. I am therefore delighted to welcome Sheep worrying – An incident on 7 September was the Prime Minister’s announcement of a recruitment drive for reported near to Holywell Farm, Swerford. Two sheep were 20,000 more police officers, starting in September, to recruit left with wool ripped from their backs and 1 had a broken leg. these officers over the next three years. These officers will be Sheep worrying can include dogs chasing livestock or particularly welcome in rural communities like ours. I want to attacking them. The landowner is able to shoot a dog which see more police in West Oxfordshire and I am delighted that they believe is worrying livestock as a last resort. If you the Prime Minister has started his time in office by boosting witness this or other livestock worrying or dogs being the brave officers who work so hard to help us all and, as dangerously out of control please call police on 101/999. recent events have sadly shown us, often risk a great deal as well. Chipping Norton crime data As well as more police, our officers need to be better Here are the July crime statistics for the Chipping Norton supported during and after their vital work to protect us. I local area. Total crimes for the month were 79 including: anti- have been campaigning with a group of Conservative MPs for social behaviour 17, burglary 5, criminal damage/arson 9, the Government to adopt a Police Covenant, which commits thefts 10, drugs 1, vehicle crime 8, other crime 2, violence and to supporting our serving and retired police officers when it sexual offences 27. Please visit www.police.uk/shape/sMi1qH comes to mental and physical health. I am pleased the for more information including outcomes for these crimes Government has committed to delivering the Covenant and and contact information for your local policing team.

15 HEALTH UPDATE

Health Centre – Urgent Care changes Local Dementia support The daily ‘Walk-in’ system at Have you recently been Chipping Norton Health Centre diagnosed with, or care ceases from Monday 7 October for someone with, to be replaced by a new, same dementia? It can often be day, Urgent Care Hub. Peter Branson, secretary of the difficult to ask for support. There is someone else to talk to – surgery’s Patient Participation Group (PPG) which represents contact the Dementia Oxfordshire Service – a partnership patient views, says they support the change to give a better, between charities Age UK Oxfordshire, Guideposts and Young more efficient service. The ‘Walk in’ was getting overwhelmed Dementia UK. Local support worker Helen Harman said, ‘we and too much GP time was being taken up by cases which support anyone with a dementia diagnosis – to live as well as could have been dealt with by a Clinical Practitioner or possible in their own homes, and encourage engagement with Specialist Nurse.With the new Urgent Care Hub, you must dementia-friendly groups and activities. We can provide advice ring between 8.30 and 10.30am and a Care Navigator will on benefits and difficult decisions that are sometimes needed, help book a Hub appointment or refer you to another such as respite or moving into residential care. We visit clients service. At the Hub, you will see an Advanced Clinical in Chipping Norton, attend dementia-friendly activities and Practitioner – qualified to assess the problem, and write facilitate the Dementia Carers Support Group. We work appropriate prescriptions or refer to an appropriate service. closely with Chipping Norton Health Centre and Memory A GP is on duty for further advice if needed. The PPG Clinics who refer patients to us.’ As a single point of contact summarise the overall benefits: anyone may call the Dementia Oxfordshire Support Line • More clinical staff – new ACPs, experienced, clinically 01865 410210 Monday – Friday 9-6pm, for a listening ear, trained advice, practical support and connections with local activities. • More time for new, urgent appointments – Hub open Dementia – family and friends event – Dementia 9am-noon and 1-5pm Friendly Charlbury (DFC), one of the local volunteer support • More Care Navigators – experienced trained staff taking groups, is running an information session on Saturday 2 calls, getting you to the right service November from 2.30 to 4.30pm at Charlbury Community • More GP time – for more GP appointments to see Centre (OX7 3PQ) to help you be more confident in patients with ongoing conditions providing care and support. Meryl Smith from DFC says they The PPG has been working closely with the Health Centre to warmly welcome carers from Chipping Norton and ensure changes run smoothly, but please let them know any surrounding villages For information contact DFC: issues so they can help resolve them. Leave a note at the [email protected] or 01608 810192. Health Centre or e-mail [email protected] CHIPPING NORTON HEALTH CENTRE Health Centre – booking appointments From 7 October please call 01608 642742 to book as follows: FLU CLINICS 2019 8.30-10.30am Only patients with URGENT ‘on the day’ We are holding open flu clinics at the Health problems please. Centre for patients who are eligible for their free 10.30am-6.30pm Bookings for any ROUTINE appointment. flu vaccination on the following dates: 2pm-6.30pm Ring for test results and other queries For all age groups* th (line closed 1-2pm, emergency line active). Saturday 12 October (children’s nasal flu not available) Saturday 19th October (children’s nasal flu available*) To help the team, callers are asked to remember CARE – the You do not need to book, just turn up to the open Condition you are calling about, Assessment of urgency and timeframe, Referral to the right professional service, and clinic between 8.30am and 11.30am. an Examination appointment. You are eligible for a free flu vaccination if • you suffer from a long term chronic illness like Prescription home deliveries diabetes, asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, or Many Chippy patients using our three local • you have had a stroke or have some other pharmacies have prescriptions delivered to neurological illness, or their homes. Until recently this service has been free, but back in July Boots announced • you have a suppressed immune system, or nationally they would be charging to deliver • you are the main carer for anyone suffering with orders taken in local branches – around £5 any of the above, or for a single order. This comes fully into operation in October. • you are over 65 years of age, or There are exemptions, including for vulnerable patients (see • you are pregnant, or Boots website). This follows charging by national chains such as Lloyds. Deliveries for Boots centralised online ordering • you have a BMI of 40 or over remain free. Branch ordering remains popular with a more *Children aged two and three are eligible for the nasal flu vaccination at the Health Centre. Those aged four or older personal and helpful service. In Chipping Norton, the Co-op (after 31st August) will have the opportunity to have the Pharmacy said they would continue delivering free for the vaccine at school. foreseeable future for patients ordering in the High St branch. If you cannot attend any of these clinics, please call Chipping Norton Pharmacy at the Health Centre also reception on 01608 642742 to book an appointment. confirmed there were no plans for delivery charges.

16 PLANNING

Chipping Norton – Planning for 2050 What kind of Oxfordshire – and Chipping Norton – will we be living in by 2050? Last December, the News reported on how our five District environmental well-being, local employment, infrastructure and County authorities were working together on and sustainability high on the list of issues to be considered, Oxfordshire Plan 2050 – a vision as part of a £215m Housing including for rural areas and market towns such as here. & Growth Deal agreed by the Current concerns over the big Chippy Oxfordshire Growth Board with the 1200+ home expansion at Tank Farm Government. West Oxfordshire’s leader seem to be raising the same issues. James Mills, who chairs the political How will our town feature as a 21st working group, came to Chippy as part century sustainable working town as of launching an initial consultation. Much talk was of housing part of all this? Cllr Mills says he and colleagues, including growth and its impact. So far over 1000 Oxfordshire OCC’s Leader Cllr Ian Hudspeth, will be listening to all these responses reflect views that the 2050 Plan should be concerns in more ‘2050’ consultation as the Plan develops. ambitious and creative – but with climate change, social and Meanwhile, campaign groups are getting active (see box).

Oxfordshire 2050 – Vision or eyesore? The News Team’s Nigel Rose went to a recent Oxford the countryside while not being able to enforce solar panels conference – organised by The Campaign to Protect Rural on new houses as condition of planning permission. It was England (CPRE) who, with other groups, have raised suggested that the National Planning Guidance does allow questions about how the Oxfordshire Plan 2050 process is local authorities to impose tighter requirements where they going forward, including lack of think that Building Regulations are democratic accountability and not strong enough. They need the assumptions of high growth will to impose them. rates. At the conference, expert At the Oxford conference some speakers from CPRE and ‘Golden Rules’ were suggested Planning Oxfordshire’s Environ- that should be applied in the ment and Transport Sustainably development of the Oxfordshire (POETS) focused on excessive 2050 Plan. They were: growth, climate change issues, and doubts about housing • Local people in the driving seat affordability – and the role of ‘unelected bodies’ such as the • Housing numbers in accordance with ‘natural’ growth, Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Key points raised not imposed from Whitehall included: • Genuinely affordable housing - Excessive population growth – the LEP has • Hierarchy of development – urban brownfield, growth predicted a net increase of 108,000 new jobs in an area proportional to existing settlements, new settlements already of full employment, leading to an increased sustainably located (eg on existing public transport pressure for additional housing. Population growth could corridors not just where developers happen to have a be five times the national rate adding 200,000 dwellings site) over and above the 100,000 already in Local Plans (think • High quality, high density development, creating another 2400 houses in Chippy in addition to the 1200 communities not estates at Tank Farm). - Environmental impact – while our local authorities • Right jobs in the right places – co-location of jobs and are declaring a climate emergency, decisions with a big housing, reducing the need for commuting climate change impact were being made behind closed • Properly funded and timely infrastructure and reversal of doors – and then presented to our local elected losses of public transport in rural areas representatives for acceptance. An example quoted is • Climate change properly addressed (initial 2050 the Oxford-Cambridge expressway proposed by documents did not even mention this) Highways England which will lead to increased car and What can be done? CPRE and others suggest Oxfordshire lorry traffic, air pollution and CO2 emissions. The money residents can be more proactive in responding to the could be better spent re-opening old railway lines consultations – the next one is scheduled for October in (Cowley, Witney etc) and electrifying all the lines in the readiness for the March 2020 submission. We can lobby our county. elected councillors and MPs stating what we want, not just - Proper housing affordability – it was explained that what we don’t want. Local Town and Parish Councils, such as delivering increased housing numbers by private in Chipping Norton, can lead representations. Young people developers alone will never reduce prices to really should be involved – they will be the people who will have affordable levels. Cited were the excess profits made by to live with the outcomes of the Oxfordshire Plan. Ideas housebuilders under taxpayer funded ‘Help to Buy’ such as a Youth Council for Chipping Norton might help this. schemes. Affordability should be based on actual levels of Everyone can treat climate change as an opportunity to income, not a discount on market rates. reconfigure transport spending and overall achieve - Tighter building requirements – during questions it something better for everyone. The website for the Plan is was commented that it was nonsense to build solar farms in https://oxfordshireplan.org/

17 LOCAL NEWS

18 THE ARTS

Chipping Norton Arts Festival This new arts festival, organised by CNarts group is on 5 October Art to SEE and art to EXPERIENCE with workshops on Figure Drawing, Print- Making, Comic Book Illustration and many others. Exhibitions and demonstrations of Comics & cartoon creation: workshop Painting, Drawing and Printing, as well as Chadlington School’s latest ‘release’ many and varied artisan Arts and Crafts in screening/talk various locations around town. The theme of this year’s festival is Connect. Featured in The Town Hall is the amazing Of all the people in the world by internationally renowned arts group, Stan’s Café. This fascinating and thought-provoking The Missing Link: screening installation has never been seen before in Oxfordshire. Chipping Norton Theatre is The Photograph: film (15) hosting a group show by CNarts members, plus screenings of Shane the Chef, The Clangers, Horrid Henry and Doctor Who with industry professionals explaining how some of these amazing shows are created. More information at CNarts.org. Booking and venue details at chippingnortontheatre.com or via 642350. Capturing Motion: screening/talk Shane the Chef: screening/talk

19 THE ARTS

Jeeves and Wooster – In Perfect Nonsense This next in- The Theatre house production runs 5-15 February 2020, and is billed as ‘a Skylight reviewed Another of Chipping Norton Theatre’s joyous reimagining of the classic P G Wodehouse characters’. ‘Homegrown’ productions staged a dozen strong Book online at chippingnortontheatre.com or call 642350. Meet the Puss in Boots Panto cast Get your diaries out folks and pencil in the Panto Meet and Greet Day on Saturday 2 November, 1pm-4pm in Chipping Norton. Keep your eyes peeled for a 1950s London bus pulling up in the town centre.

The Skylight cast (centre) pictured with director John Terry and the set designer Liz Cooke on Press Night performances of David Hare’s Olivier Award winning play, directed by The Theatre’s John Terry – an ambitious undertaking for a small theatre. The News Team’s Judy Hop on board, book tickets for the show, have your Buckingham enjoyed the show: ‘Britain in 1995 was a world photograph taken, try winning the raffle, and best of all, meet where the activities of bankers hit the headlines, yet some of the cast. More details nearer the time. See Theatre unemployment figures were running high and politics Facebook page and notice boards around Town. uncertain. In Skylight, David Hare’s characters reflect the Friends of The Theatre Literary Lunch 9 November contrast in lifestyles of those times. On a freezing winter’s Town Hall, 11.45am for 12 noon. Edward and Mrs Simpson: night, Tom, a middle class entrepreneur arrives at his former Richard Anderson’s talk covers the extraordinary story of the lover’s scruffy East End flat in his chauffeur-driven Mercedes, only British monarch to resign the throne of his own free will. unaware his teenage son had visited earlier. He and Kyra had Expect lots of royal revelations. All welcome. Tickets £20 from had a six year affair when she first arrived in London as a Box Office, including lunch and glass of wine. naïve 18-year-old and lived with the family until his wife Alice discovered the affair. Kyra left and the pair hadn’t met again The Theatre 200 Club Congratulations to Jennifer P, Hazel until this evening. Meanwhile, she had become a teacher, W, Pat L, and Margaret B on winning the Friends 200 Club £50 dedicated to children in a poorer area in East Ham. Their lives prize draws this summer! Members’ monthly £5 divided, the evening is spent reliving their earlier years contributions make a real difference, helping keep The Theatre together, their mutual love is challenged, attitudes dissected lights on, maintaining the building, and delivering community and painful memories exposed. An impressively authentic set services such as Take Part bursaries, community tickets, and strong performances from Rosie Wyatt, Louis Dempsey Remini-sing for those with Dementia. Why not join? With a and Roly Botha kept engrossed.’ Chippy’s Skylight full 200 members, £10,550 (after prize monies) could be production goes on tour to Salisbury Playhouse, Winchester raised for the Theatre. See the ‘support us’ section on Theatre Royal and Portsmouth New Theatre Royal. Why not chippingnortontheatre.com or pick up a leaflet . catch it there? ‘Back to the Fifties’ Martin Hannant celebrates 50 years with the NORTS, at Chipping Norton Methodist Church on Saturday 5 October at 7.30pm. A first half will see Martin reminiscing about life and radio shows in the 1950s and then in the second half, re- creating Tony Hancock in The Blood Donor. Tickets £10 (inc 1950s-style refreshments) from West St Newsagents. Free coffee when you pre-order Music & Local Arts Events The Arts Society Cotswolds 9 October lecture: Zaha Agent Running in the Field Hadid – architectural superstar with Prof Colin Davies. Dame Zaha Hadid was born in Iraq but lived in Britain. This lecture covers her career from visionary 1980s projects, through by John Le Carré years of frustration, when her designs were considered th unbuildable, to the prolific crop of highly successful global Out 17 October 2019 projects in her last decade. One of the most important 1 Middle Row, Chipping Norton architects of the early 21st century. 11am Warwick Hall, 01608 641033 [email protected] Church Green, Burford OX18 4RZ. Non-members welcome (suggested donation £10). See theartssocietycotswolds.org.uk.

20 THE ARTS

CRAG Tea Concerts First of the series 13 October 3pm in decorations. Each workshop £65 per person. Light lunch, all the Memorial Hall, Charlbury. Messiaen’s epic Quartet for the materials and use of equipment included. Booking essential – end of time with clarinetist Tony Pay. Many will remember maximum 10 students per class. Workshops run 10am-4pm. Tony’s evocative rendition of the solo clarinet movement Suitable for adults only – beginners and those with some from this piece two years ago: now hear the work in full. The experience welcome. Call 737313 or email second concert on 3 November features Mozart’s [email protected] to book or for more details. Divertimento in E major, K563 with Claire Hoffman (violin), Lisa Cochrane (viola) and Jane Fenton (cello). Concerts last Cotswolds Stage School a new weekly stage school has about an hour. Admission £12 – first come, first seated, so been launched with Saturday afternoon sessions during best to arrive when doors open at 2.30pm. Complimentary school term time at Glyme Hall in Chipping Norton. Liz tea and cakes after the concert. Enquiries to [email protected].

Adderbury Ensemble Baroque concert, Saturday 28 October 7.30pm, CN Town Hall – Pachelbel Canon and trio sonatas by Handel, Vivaldi, Corelli and Bach. Adults £16, students £5, U16s free, from 00771 606996, Jaffé & Neale or on the door. Burford Singers Verdi Requiem 24 November at 7.30pm, Church of St John the Baptist, Burford with the Cotswold Scrivener and Claire Bradshaw, after the success of their Chamber Orchestra. Tickets reserved at (£25, £20 sold out), holiday workshops, aim ‘to offer exceptional Drama, Dance £15, unreserved £10, children and students half price. Online and Singing Classes and to bring a new dynamic approach to booking 6 October-23 November. Booking in person Performing Arts’. For ages 6 to 18. This term sees two (unreserved tickets only) from 6 October, The Madhatter musicals: Matilda for the younger age group and Les Misérables Bookshop, 122 High Street, Burford OX18 4QJ. Full details for the older. More at cotswoldstageschool.com and booking form on burfordsingers.org.uk Woodcrafts at Combe Mill A Grade II* listed building, Felting Workshops Two new felting workshops take place Combe Mill is the original ‘power house’ of the old Blenheim at Grange Farm, Swerford, with local felting artist and tutor Palace Estate – a Victorian steam and water-powered sawmill Jane Abbott. On 19 October learn how to make needle-felted now a working museum. Demonstrations by hurdle makers, jewellery from different fibres including wool, silk and alpaca chair makers and pole lathers and a chance for a ‘hands on’ fibre. On 23 November make needle-felted Christmas experience yourself. Millie the Mill Cat Trail for children. 20 October 10.30am to 4.30pm. Tea room open. See combemill.co.uk. The Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock An Earthly Paradise: William Morris & The Thames 14 September-10 November. This exhibition illustrates the rich and little-known story of William Morris’ deep connections to the Thames with a unique selection of works, with loans from the V&A, The William Morris Gallery, British Library, and more. Highlights include Morris’ Thames series of textiles alongside original hand-drawn designs, a signed copy of News from Nowhere, and his personal fishing tackle and spectacles. Materials from the Morris & Co. workshop illustrate the production process. Lectures: 19 October: The Wardle Family. 9 November: William Morris: A life in 10 Objects. Tickets £8 from oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordshiremuseum 8th Woodstock Poetry Festival 15-17 November, run by The Woodstock Bookshop. Friday 15th: two performances by Hugo Williams and Keu Miller at St Mary Magdalene Church. 16th: three performances – Niall Campbell, Vidyan Ranibthiram, Patrick McGuinness, Giorgia Sensi, Julia Copus and Jane Clarke, upstairs in Woodstock Town Hall. 17th: three performances – Faith Lawrence with open mic introduced by Jenny Lewis of The Poet’s House, Oxford; Hannah Sullivan and Mary Jean Chan; Raymond Antrobus all upstairs in Woodstock Town Hall. Also on the 17th An Evening of Music and Poetry at Woodstock Social Club with Peggy Seeger and poets Bernard O'Donoghue & Tom Paulin with Judith and Nick Hooper (fiddle and guitar). Tickets available on 01993 812760 or at [email protected].

21 SPORTS NEWS

CN Cricket Club Chipping Norton Town Football Yet another good season that was over far too soon! Good Pre-season is nearly over and the fun starts for Town on the 21 September. Tricky fixtures saw heavy defeats in the Henry Hawtin Cup playing teams from much higher leagues –competitive first halves generally saw a collapse midway through the second as lack of fitness and chasing the game took its toll. Still, there should be no games as tough this year and we look forward to the challenge of a new season. Despite the losses there were many positives to take into the new season with some new players signing, especially pleasing to see some old faces re-signing, and the whole Club is looking forward to seeing Anthony Akers and Liam Busby bossing games from the back. As always if there is anyone looking to get involved please contact Dominic Rickard on Club v President XI match in June 07810 307213. weather, good wickets provided by Mick Widdows saw a lot of runs scored. There was also continued improvement in Chippy Swifts playing standards and player availability, all resulting in more After a long summer the kids were bursting to get back into matches won. There is a real enjoyment factor around the Club – long may that continue. A big thank you to Captains Jim and Nadir for their hard work. The First XI with cup and league games won 10, lost 8, no results 1. The Second XI won 12, lost 4 and had one no result game. The Club is looking forward to a presentation night to complete the season. Graham Beacham Table Tennis Chipping Norton Table Tennis Club now meets every Wednesday evening (7-9pm) at Chipping Norton Leisure Centre – cost £5 per session. For further information, email action as the 2019/20 season finally got underway on 7 [email protected]. September. This campaign Swifts will take on local opposition at U7, U9, U10, U11, U12, U15 and U16 level. Pictured above are our newest and youngest heroes, Swifts under 7s. Martyn Walsh Chipping Norton Bowls Club The Outdoor season is over and we now look ahead to meeting up again with our friends from other outdoor clubs to enjoy the comforts of indoor play. A busy season lies ahead with a jam-packed programme of friendlies, club and county competitions as well as our daily leagues. We started off on Saturday 28 September with an Open Day to welcome new bowlers with an afternoon Bowls Drive for members and friends. Monday mornings from 10am to noon we have a coaching session when all new and perhaps rusty bowlers are invited along. Don’t worry if you have never bowled before we have all the equipment to get you started. All ages are welcome just come along and give it a try. A warm welcome awaits you at Greystones off the Burford Road near Chipping Norton. For more information visit the Club’s website: www.chippingnortonbowls.co.uk or alternatively call Carole (652018) or Roberta (643556) Roberta Jarvie Hook Norton Tennis Club At the time of writing, the results of the Banbury league matches were: A team 2nd in Div 1; B team 4th in Div 2; C team 3rd in Div 4, and D team 7th in Div 4. We held a very successful open day in July but are still keen to get new members especially ladies. There is a mixed doubles tournament on Saturday 19 October. The Junior Coaching Programme runs until Saturday 26 October with sessions for

22 SPORTS NEWS all ages from 3 to 11+. Contact Marc Gilkes for further Chipping Norton Rugby Club details: 07930 406015 / [email protected]. At the time of For more information about the Club contact Sue writing we are a Glasson, 730880, [email protected] or visit few days away www.hooknortontennis.com from our season 4Shires Swimming Club opener when our 1st XV host Autumn training started with a pre-season briefing session Slough. This will for swimmers and parents. Topics included the gala calendar, be their first nutrition for swimmers, training tips and a guide to the Club’s game in the online system Swim Manager. Berks, Bucks & Our new Club Captains were also Oxon Premier- announced. Congratulations to Abby st Chapman and Aaron ship after the 1 Syme (pictured) and also XV achieved st to Vice Captains promotion last The new Scorpion 1 XV main, alternative Charlotte Oliver and season. Senior and training strip for the 2019-20 season Aaron Hamilton. They will training is on – featuring sponsors Brakspear, Lockhart be on hand to give advice and encourage- Tuesdays and Garratt and Trade Secret ment to younger swimmers and to assist the Thursdays at 7pm, new players welcome. coaches and team managers at galas and other events Minis and juniors rugby is in full swing, with great numbers The County qualifying times for 2020 have been released of keen children packing out the pitches on Sunday mornings. and our County Competitive squads will be training and All children of any ability or experience are welcome. racing hard to achieve these before December. Our junior We have a number of home games in October and invite squads will be concentrating on technique and getting ready any reader to come up and support their local club. to compete at development galas and at our club • Sat 5th Oct – 2nd XV v Banbury championships in October. Good Luck to all those competing • Sat 19th Oct – 1st XV v Wheatley in the coming months! • Sat 26 Oct – 1st XV v Drifters 4SSC is a small, friendly, competitive swimming club And please don’t forget to follow us on facebook always happy to welcome new members. Please contact @chippingnortonrugby and twitter @chippyrugby or you can [email protected] for more information. visit the Club website http://chippingnorton.rfu.club Heidi Portlock Ed Melmoth

23 CLUB NEWS

Scouts’ activity-packed summer evocative small of ‘steam’, come along to one of our meetings 7.30pm in the Town Hall on the first Tuesday of every month. The Scouts had a PGL activity holiday in Dorset this year. The Estelle Brain Cubs also had a pack holiday in Dorset where they had a great time doing such activities as: building a rope bridge, Ramblers’ lament: ‘Oh those stiles!’ Chippy Ramblers enjoyed a fine afternoon for their walk on 1 September. Starting and ending in Bourton-on-the-Hill, we walked through the beautiful estate of Sezincote at one point viewing the house as it stood above us on the hill – a 200- year-old Moghul-style Indian palace set in the Cotswold landscape. The estate, anxious for the comfort of its cattle and visiting ramblers, has created clever protected edge-of-field paths. The down side is an increase in stiles but the stalwart crew upped and overed with alacrity. Next walk will be on Sunday 6 October. Meet in the New Street Car Park at 2pm and you can be assured of a walk of 4 or 5 miles in good company. New members are always welcome. Enquiries to Heather (643691) or [email protected] or to exploring Brownsea Island (where Baden Powell had the very Jenny via [email protected] first Scout camp) and are pictured having a lot of fun on Heather Leonard Swanage beach. Coming up this term the Beavers are planning CN Flower Club workshop a sleepover in the Scout Hut and an activity day. October’s meeting on the 24th is an Autumn Wreath and Table Chipping Norton Lions’ Xmas plans Decoration Workshop with Sophie Johnson from Stow nd th flowers. To take part please bring along some greenery and We are now back to meeting on the 2 and 4 Tuesday of the autumn flowers. We will have a selection of oasis wreathes month at 8pm in the Crown & Cushion. We have now sorted and containers for sale or bring your own. We meet in the the events for Christmas: firstly our Christmas Raffle – we Town Hall – doors open at 7 for a 7.30pm start. Visitors shall be in the Co-op in November and December selling welcome at £4. More information from Ann 683289 or email tickets and also on 30 November there’s a Fun Christmas Elaine at [email protected] We are also well into planning Quiz at the Crown & Cushion, 7 for 7.30pm, £5 per person, our Christmas celebration event, which is on 28 November, with table nibbles and festive prizes. The Quiz will be instead more details next month. of our usual Reindeer Race. All our fund-raising will go towards maintaining the Lions’ Defibrillators. We really do need new members, so if you’d like to find out more about Lions, enjoying yourselves and working to raise funds to enable us to do charity work, please contact any Lion or our President Rob Caswell 646003 or Maz Holland 641121 Liz Nason Railway Club remembers steam On 3 September Mike Clemens returned with more of his CALL: 07538 244861 Archive Railway Films. This time more of Chipping Norton Station, including an impressive scene of a train coming out of www.getridremovals.com the tunnel ... made someone’s day!! Also, good scenes of the station itself, train on the platform, passengers waiting and Small local company specialising in alighting. Local stations shown included Kingham, Shipston- on-Stour and Moreton-in-Marsh. Rare film of Hook Norton • All types of removals: local and viaduct was welcomed by the Hooky members. Now digitalised from his father Jim’s ciné films, Mike is in great long distance demand these days by the BBC and other film and • All types of clearance: house, documentary makers, for vintage steam train footage. Intriguing title The Flour Mill and Love of Steam is the office, garden, loft & shed subject of speaker Bill Parker on 1 October. Always something • Removal and recycling of any new at the Railway Club! The visit to the The Battlefield Line, which runs from unwanted items: furniture, bric-a- Shackerstone to Shenton in Leicestershire, was a great brac, books, white goods etc success. A warm and sunny day, as usual!! The excellent museum and a Victorian café were enjoyed by the members • Removal of single items up- and visitors and included unlimited train rides. The day ended wards with a pub stop in Moreton-in-Marsh. New members and visitors are always welcome at our • Man & Van for hire meetings, with lots of chat and tea/coffee and biscuits in the • Weekly services to London interval. If you like the sound of us and remember well the

24 CLUB NEWS

WOWI’s scary faces & life-saving West Oxon MS branch It is hard to think it is already October Welfare support is vital for many people and we at West Oxon WI are booking with MS but changes to the benefits Christmas meals and arranging our system have left many worse off. The programme for 2020/21. Our August Disability Benefits Consortium’s new Picnic was a great success in a members report shows disabled people are four beautiful garden. We celebrated the times worse off financially than non- Oxfordshire WI's Centenary with a disabled people. While many people who receive welfare special cake. In September, gemmologist, support have experienced cuts of an average of £300 per year, Helen Plumb explained the fascinating disabled people have typically lost around £1,200. We're world of gemstones. Eight of us went to calling on the Government to make urgent improvements to the Alpaca Farm in Swerford for a the welfare system to ensure it works for everyone. Needle Felting workshop with Jane Problems with the current benefits system can have a Abbott. We all came away with a beautiful Owl. In October, we devastating impact on health and wellbeing: Pam, who has MS, had her support cut by £290 a month after she was assessed for PIP in 2017. She’s now appealing the decision but says the stress of the process has had a huge impact on her health. She said, ‘In the last 10 weeks I’ve had a massive relapse. I went dizzy and lost all feeling in my left leg. When I spoke to my neurologist he said this was probably caused by stress. I’ve also been depressed and eating less. PIP has caused me and my family a lot of anxiety and stress. It’s caused my MS symptoms to worsen, which has reduced my mobility, confidence, and ability to take care of myself physically as well will have a lot of fun creating our own scary faces when we as mentally.” do pumpkin carving. Have you noticed the old telephone box For more information on this issue or anything to do with MS, in the Market Square is now the home of the Defibrillator. In please do get in contact directly with the MS Society, November a paramedic is coming to show us exactly how to www.mssociety.org.uk or with me – contact details are: use it. Please come and join in the fun, make new friends and T645988 or e-mail: [email protected] learn new skills – Needle Felting & Defibrillator Use being just Peter Branson the latest! 7.30pm every third Monday in St Mary's Parish Rooms, Chipping Norton. It is our monthly Sunday Teas’ first birthday on 6 October. Please do come along and celebrate with us. 2.30-4pm in the Methodist Hall. Further details please get in touch. Hilary Dix 646228 Burford & Kingham Rotary events Our President Jane Coombs’ chosen charity is Prostate Cancer UK. At our meeting on 2 September Michael Brekell from the Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group gave an excellent talk about prostate cancer and how the OPCSG is involved in awareness raising. Prostate cancer has increased in frequency and is now almost as common as breast cancer, without the benefit of routine NHS screening. As well as monthly meetings with consultants and patients, the Support Group aims to raise awareness and encourage early diagnosis and intervention. Michael stressed the importance of the PSA blood test for men over 50 and discussed modern methods of diagnosis and treatments. He also mentioned other causes of prostate disease which may mimic cancer of the prostate. Visit www.prostatecanceruk.org for further information. Jane thanked Michael for his excellent talk and presented cheque from the Club to support the Group’s work. Diary dates: 28 Oct Speaker Helen Plumb Gemmologist 15 November Save the date for Lunch & Bridge – a great day for Bridge Players Details [email protected] We meet on Monday evenings at Burford Golf Club. We are a small very friendly group and are always looking to increase our membership. Why not email our Secretary via [email protected] to come as a visitor to find out more? Ros Richardson

25 CLUB NEWS

Yacht Club – summer ending History Society’s popular new time As the summer Chipping Norton Local History Society has commenced its sailing season new season’s programme of talks in the Methodist Church moves to its end, Hall at 2pm. This new afternoon time is very popular so please many of us begin to do come and join us for a cup of tea, a chat with members feel autumnal as we and visitors followed by an interesting talk. Monday 14 plan last sails, winter October will be a talk by Judith Ellis on The Howse which was layup and work on so faire – discovering Old Campden House and Gardens. boats. Owning a Jan Cliffe boat brings responsibilities as NOOG’s autumn horticultural quiz well as joy – when a The Norton Oxon Organic Gardeners’ visit to Honeydale car breaks down it is annoying and inconvenient. When a boat Kitchen Garden’s new 1.5 acre site in September was an fails things can become serious or even life threatening. impressive end to our outdoor visits. This CSA (Community Alongside the formal activities of the Club we have a growing, if modest, network of members helping others in their sailing activities, looking after their boats, or perhaps pursuing dreams. A member might ask of others: where is there a winter berth convenient to Chippy; has anyone got a few days spare to crew or help with something, should I buy this ‘gem’ I’ve spotted? This is a strength of the Club. The talks and dinners are enjoyable and appreciated in themselves but Supported Agriculture) scheme started in a small way in through them we are meeting people who are not only good Chadlington, where they continue, and are now thriving in company, but also experienced and supportive. their new location on Cotswold Seeds’ new Centre of October’s speaker Nic Compton will be presenting a Diverse Farming growing vegetables for local subscribers. history of madness at sea: how the sea’s physical character Interested in a weekly veggie box? Contact Emma at confuses our senses and makes rational thought difficult – [email protected]. evident in many of today’s yacht races. For details, to book or We’re back indoors on Wednesday 2 October, at St to enquire about joining please visit cnyc.co.uk. Mary’s Parish Rooms. After a short AGM, there’ll be a Roger Backhaus horticultural quiz – with a year-long family ticket to Batsford Arboretum (pictured above) as the main prize! On Wednesday 6 November, our group discussion will consider Humans vs Machinery to determine when or K J Millard Ltd whether machines are more efficient than manual tools. Please bring examples of favourite tools. Do join us. Meetings start at 7.30pm (£1 members, £3 Skip visitors) at St Mary’s Parish Rooms, Chipping Norton. For enquiries about N Oxon Organic Gardeners, please contact with Tracy Lean [email protected], 01295 780710, us www.noog.org.uk. for a Amnesty welcome for The Immigrant Thank you all readers who contributed to our annual Chippy Fast, Friendly Efficient Collection at the end of August: which raised £224.40p in fine weather – the rain came as the Town clock struck 1pm! Service! This month’s meeting will include our Monthly Action and Planning for the rest of 2019. On 19 October, together with All Sizes of Skips delivered CRAG (Charlbury Refugee Action Group) we will be at The where you want, when you want. Theatre for a performance of a comedy, The Immigrant, a Environmentally friendly, family run business modern retelling of the Charlie Chaplin film which is based on hundreds of accounts of what it is like to come to live in an committed to recycling. strange country, trying to fit in when you stand out. We will Established 30 years. be there to provide information for theatregoers and to petition for present-day immigrants. Competitive prices. Our Christmas Season is starting with the sale of Trust us to take care of your rubbish Amnesty International Christmas cards on 12 October at Burford Charity Christmas Card Sale and we will be selling Phone us now on cards at the Charlbury Christmas Card Fair on 24 November. This month’s meeting: Thursday 7.30pm Lower Town Hall 10 October. All are welcome. Enquiries to Val on 645036. 01608 641361 Kaye Freeman

26 CLUB NEWS

The Monday Club for over 60s Horticultural visits and talks For members over 60. We are looking for new members to The last trip for 2019 of the Chipping Norton Horticultural join us for our weekly meetings held in The Glyme Hall, Association took place at the beginning of September with a Burford Road. We meet every Monday from 1.15 to 3.15pm for friendship, companionship, tea and biscuits, talks and monthly speakers. Weekly cost is £1.50. We have occasional outings and meals. We could do a lot more if we had more members and support. Please come and introduce yourself. You will be made most welcome. Green Gym’s summer action Unlike some other organisations we keep going throughout the summer! We have worked in the William Fowler Wood, cutting back invasive blackthorn and dying viburnum bushes – all in the hope that this lovely wood won’t be ruined by the proposed development – and also in Fitzalan Wood, the copse we planted near Travis Perkins, where vegetation abounds. Up at the Health Centre we have continued to tidy the borders day spent at Cogges, Witney and Aston Pottery. We were and the enclosed atriums and at the Rollright Stones – a new rather depleted in numbers but with good weather, all site for us – we have cut back an unruly hedge and generally enjoyed the day especially the wonderful borders at Aston – tidied up. full of autumn colour. Some of the group enjoyed the Chippy Green Gym meets every Wednesday morning and demonstration of pottery-making, while others heard how welcomes new members, whatever your age or ability – there the borders came about, walking around the site with the are jobs for all! Lifts from Chippy may be available to outlying owner and designer. sites and there is no joining fee. Come and enjoy working The autumn programme commences on 16 October at outdoors in good company. More information on the board 7.30 in the Methodist Hall with the return visit of Marcel just inside Sainsbury’s, or visit www.chippygreengym.org or Floyd from Calne speaking on Clematis. Visitors and new email me at [email protected]. members always welcome – further details on our website Jenny Harrington 643269 www.cnha.uk or the secretary Eileen Forse on 643275.

Chipping Norton Masonic Centre Tony Backer-Holst, Secretary of the Masonic Centre in the Over Norton Road sent the News this account No doubt many folk but perhaps not all, who live in Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxfordshire co-ordinate schemes Chipping Norton and surrounding area will be aware of the like The Pantomime Project where, since 2013 they book the Masonic Centre in Over Norton Road – a building with a whole of the Oxford Playhouse Theatre to provide 400 rather anonymous Victorian façade accessed through a small disabled, sick and disadvantaged children and their carers car park. How many local residents, however, have seen the with an evening of pre-Christmas fun. inside of the building and had Visitors to the Chipping Norton explained to them the purposes of its Centre learned that it is true – various rooms? Masons do perform ancient morality To help celebrate the Chipping plays handed down through the ages Norton Festival on 30 June, Chipping which are the very essence of Norton Masons welcomed many becoming a Mason. The United Grand people at our stand in the Town Lodge of England was formed over Square and into our historic Masonic 300 years ago and part of the charm Centre, giving them a brief insight into of Masonry is preserving these the history of Masonry, what goes on ancient traditions, learning from them in the Hall and our main purpose – and keeping them secret. The CHARITY. presentation of the ritual, when Charitable giving is at the heart of what we do and many members join in, is what makes the evening special – just as of the visitors were surprised to learn that Freemasonry is a surprise birthday treat only truly works if you don’t know one of Britain’s largest charitable organisations, raising over what is about to happen! £48 million last year, from within its membership, for We intend that the Open Day held back in June should national charities plus emergency relief at home and abroad. be the start of a fairly regular series, when anyone is The various Lodges based in Chipping Norton are long welcome to visit, be shown around the building in order to term supporters of a variety of charitable organisations at find out more about what we do. In the meantime, if you the heart of our community including the Lawrence Home have any questions about Freemasonry in Chipping Norton, Nursing Team, Katharine House Hospice, and the Thames please feel free to contact me c/o the Centre (Chipping Valley Air Ambulance. Across Oxfordshire, this pattern of Norton Masonic Centre, Over Norton Road, Chipping support is reflected in other Masonic Centres but the Norton).

27 CLUB NEWS

Stargazers welcome autumn nights Glyn Jones about the Shakespeare Trust Gardens. Then on 21 November the AGM is followed by A Chat with Simon Nicholas Shorter days and Countryside Manager Sherborne Park Estate, about his cooler nights are involvement with TV’s Springwatch. To join, call the welcomed by Membership Secretary on 01386 593085, or for more Chippy stargazers as information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ncotswoldassoc. we say goodbye to Rees Jenkins the summer stars and eagerly Chippy’s friendly Folk Club anticipate the arrival There was something wonderful for of the winter everyone at the September meeting – we constel-lations. CN heard contemporary and trad folk from Amateur Astronomy England, Scotland, France and the US, Group’s outreach Americana classics and material from our work begins in own talented singer songwriters. So thanks October with a to Claire and Rosie, Strings Attached, Ginnie, return to Daylesford The Elderly Brothers, Colin from Witney, Organics on Tuesday Turning Stones, Geoff, Steve, Colin from th 8 and to Great Photo: Kevin Worvill Evesham, Bethan, Gemma, Kate, Bev, Stewart, Setting up for solar observing at the Rollright WI on Dear Someone, Paul, our appreciative st Rollright Stones Monday 21 . Also on listeners and Harvey (who happened to be in the pub, heard st the 21 in the Methodist Hall we have guest speaker Colin the music and asked if he could borrow a guitar and sing a Stuart from the Royal Observatory – everyone welcome, song – great stuff!) 7.30 for an 8pm start. We are planning to observe the transit Visitors often comment on the friendly atmosphere of of the planet Mercury across the face of on 11 the Club and the great ambiance of our venue. We love being th November and to commemorate the 50 anniversary of at The Artyard Café, and warmly welcome you to our next Apollo 12 the same month. Meanwhile we also look forward meeting on Monday 14 October 7.45pm at the Artyard Cafe, to the Orionid, Leonid and Geminid meteor showers Oxford Rd, Enstone OX7 4NF. Easy parking. Sing, play, recite between now and Christmas. A great time to take up a new or just listen. Free entrance. www.chippingnortonfolk.org.uk hobby – new members always welcome, no equipment or Rachel Chai experience necessary, visit www.cnaag.com for details. Robin Smitten CRAG fears no-deal Brexit UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, has warned that a no-deal Brexit would mean that the Dublin Regulation, which allows for the transfer of asylum-seeking children and adults within the EU to join family members, will no longer apply in the UK. Even if there is a deal, the future of family reunion is not certain. The Dublin arrangements, though far from perfect, do allow a means by which a young refugee stranded alone in Europe but with a close family member in this country can come here and live with his or her family. If this legal means were to be no longer available then even more child refugees would resort to risking their lives crossing the Channel on lorries and boats. For further details see: www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/sep/01/ home-office-planning-to-end-family-reunion-for-children- after-brexit. For further information about CRAG visit facebook.com/charlburyrefugee/ or charlbury.info/community/crag John Dunleavy National Trust supporters update Membership of the North Cotswold Association of The National Trust is open to all members of the Trust and to volunteers at any of its properties. Members enjoy talks, outings, events and fundraising. Surplus funds raised assist local NT properties in conservation, improving our heritage and looking after the environment. Outings are on 16 October to Croft Castle and Parkland and 28 November a Christmas visit to Waddesdon Manor. Meetings are at Broadwell Village Hall. The next is on 17 October – a talk by

28 SCHOOLS NEWS

room’ and a kitchenette. With independent study becoming Chipping Norton School more and more important in terms of securing success in A- Great GCSE & A Level Results: We are extremely proud levels, we can be confident all students will always have a bright, modern, comfortable and uncrowded place to study – but also socialise at the right times. We are very grateful to have been successful in being able to undertake a major phase of site development in an era of austerity. The Sixth Form is delighted to announce the appointment of this year’s team of senior students from Year 13; Ronan Kennedy, Shannon Gorham, Neve Lloyd and Tom Alarcon- Clark. The team is and excited for our students again this year as they celebrate led by Head Students, Megan Hayes and Megan Kyte another great set of GCSE and A Level results. The demands (pictured here) and will soon include some representatives on students continue to grow and we are so proud of how from Year 12 as well. they have responded and stepped up to those challenges. The All the students play a pivotal role in helping to maintain Governors and all the staff wish to congratulate all our the high standards of the Sixth Form and the wider school in students for their success and also acknowledge their general. They will be organising charity and social events commitment and resilience. throughout the year and will be play a part in coordinating the PTA news: The School is very grateful to the PTA for their changes to the new Sixth Form Centre. continuing support. Last term they donated £9000 to various Forthcoming events: We look forward to our next Open departments within school, benefitting a large number of Evening on Thursday 3 October. The School will be open students. The PTA would welcome new members to help with from 5-7pm, with families welcome to explore the School, its important role. Please contact PTA secretary, Tanya enjoy activities within the main departments and attend a talk Harrington ([email protected]) for more by Head Teacher, Mr Doherty. details. The PTA will be hosting Sixth Form news: During the first week of the summer a Race Night on Friday holidays we discovered that we had been successful in our 4 October from 7pm. application for additional funding to develop our school site. Tickets to this lively and We had sought additional funding to create a new Sixth Form fun-packed event are centre and install new facilities that would significantly en- £15 per head and hance the lives of our oldest students. Therefore, the single include a hot dinner. storey area to the left of the main entrance will be completely Tickets can be devoted to the Sixth Form and provide them with a library, purchased from the silent study spaces, a large common room, their own ‘powder Finance Office at school.

29 SCHOOLS NEWS

fleet. The signal of safety was a long blast on a horn and finally St Mary’s Primary it was safe to leave. Exciting News! During the holidays we have seen the completion of a high spec running track on our school field. The track provides a professional style running surface to be Holy Trinity Primary used for a range of track events during the school day and for Welcome: We would like to extend a very warm welcome to all the new families and children who have joined us here at Holy Trinity. We would also like to welcome new staff members, Mrs Strachan and Mrs O’Neill, who have joined our talented team of TAs. We are delighted that they have joined our friendly school. If you are interested in your child starting at Holy Trinity in September 2020, please contact Maria in the school office: 01608 643487 to arrange a visit. We are happy for you to meet our Headteacher, staff and children and take a tour of our happy, thriving school. New all-weather playground: Our school field has been after school clubs. This is a welcome addition to our already re-vitalised with an all-weather surface; the children are well-resourced PE programme, and we hope that it will encourage all children to be active as part of our drive to improve the physical and mental well-being of all our children. The Friends of St Mary’s Summer Festival: A fantastic evening was enjoyed by the School and wider community in June when the Friends of St Mary’s hosted the annual Summer Festival. The School is very proud of its proactive committee which last year raised over £9,000 to enhance the provision on offer at St Mary’s. We would also like to say a huge thank you to the following companies and organisations for their generous sponsorship of the Festival: Heythrop Park Resort, Owen Mumford, Café Le Raj, S Peet Groundworks Civil Engineering, Cotswold Hotel and Spa, Hook Norton Brewery, Gill & Co, thoroughly enjoying the extra space for running and games at M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Excelsior, P G Renovations, playtimes, and have been able to have field-based PE lessons Shawn Newman Electrical & Security Services, S G Harris (Groundworks Ltd), Turneys Group, Abbott & Co. (Wessex) LTD, Farmer & Mercantile Insurance Brokers, Warner’s Warriors, BPD Joinery and Carpentry, Steve the Flower Man & Eco Sunpower. Winchcombe Station trip: Our Year 5 and 6 went on a trip back in time when they visited Winchcombe Station to experience what it was like to be a World War II evacuee. The workers at the station told us the reception was a time warp back to the 1940’s so, in our authentic costumes, we stepped through the door and it seemed as though we had been transported back 79 years! One group got ready to go on the steam train. The magnificent engine drew up, puffing clouds of whatever the weather! We would like to say thank you for the steam. We clambered on board with our cardboard gas mask generous financial support we received towards this project boxes tied to us and our teddy bears in our arms. from both the community and PTA. The children were warned of German spies who could be lurking around. The only way they could tell them apart were Junior Citizenship Day: The Year 6 children started term with their speech. One child discovered a piece of paper with by a visit to Oxford Fire Station as part of the Junior German writing on, so gave it to the tour guide. Citizenship scheme. It was an amazing day, where the children Next the activities – children got to go over to the air participated in a variety of practical tasks to raise their raid shelter to meet the worker. They were told about the awareness of personal safety. Topics covered included fire, dangers of fire bombs. They had to use stirrup pumps to fill a railway, road and water safety, as well as safety inside their bucket a few metres away and aimed the hose at the fire – this home, and using the Internet. The children were very wasn’t an easy job. observant, and showed a lot of common sense. The The air raid siren went off and the children had to rush emergency services teams who worked with the children into the shelter and as soon as the door was shut it was pitch were fantastic – presenting scenarios in a realistic but non- black. Booming crashes of bombs sounded around and the threatening manner. The children were allowed to make 999 worker explained that a first plane had to come to scout calls and get practically involved. They all agreed it was a very around but it wasn’t long before it was joined by the whole exciting way to start the year.

30 SCHOOLS NEWS

After School Clubs: We are delighted to offer so many after school clubs. Children can enjoy a host of activities from Great Rollright Primary Coding Club and Gym Club to Art Club and Sport club. Now it’s October, our new Reception children feel Breakfast Club and H T Active: Our Breakfast Club and thoroughly at home — and After School Club are both continuing to be well attended are not only having lots of and provide wrap-around care from 8am to 6pm on a daily fun, but discovering that it’s basis, term time only. lots of fun to learn! PTA: We would like to thank our PTA for all the hard work A typical day in and support they have given to our school over the last year. Reception has a balance of Teas at Chastleton House have been particularly successful, about half adult-led do come and join them for a slice of cake there on Sunday 20 activities and half self- October. If anyone is interested in joining the PTA please ask chosen play-based learning. for information at the school office. Mrs Grundy, one of the most experienced and The Fuss, Live at the Town Hall: We are very excited to respected Reception announce that Holy Trinity School PTA will once again be teachers in the county, has hosting popular local band, The Fuss, for a special fundraising carefully designed our event on Friday 18 October, at the Town Hall. indoor and outdoor The Fuss will be bringing us their own take on classic and learning areas so that there contemporary soul, funk and disco. So dust off your dancing are dozens of interesting shoes, join us for a fantastic night of live music and get your challenges and opportunities to develop skills across the tickets while you can – available from Jaffé & Neale or the curriculum, from maths and literacy to physical and social School. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door, development. including a welcome drink. Much of the day in Reception is spent outside, in our Proceeds will go towards a whole school trip to the partially covered outdoor learning area. And on Forest pantomime, new technology for the classrooms and special Fridays, the children head further afield, taking their learning away days for the children. to our lovely nearby woods and fields. On the night, we’re also hoping to support the family of Parents and carers are strongly encouraged to visit to see 8 year-old Anna Drysdale in their efforts to raise funds for her all that we offer — including a free bus to Chipping Norton. much-needed specialist cancer treatment in New York: As school selection time approaches, we are offering tours on https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anna-drysdale Thursday 3 October at 11.15am, Wednesday 16 October at 9.15am, and Tuesday 5 November at 9.15am. Please call us on 01608 737202 to arrange your visit. Bledington Primary September was a time for examining our school Values, procedures and practices. At Bledington we have high expectations, shared by pupils and staff alike, and together we have established a new set of School Rules with each class drawing up their own charter to follow. Our lunch time and after school clubs are underway and pupils are already participating in Games, Gardening, Bright Lights, Recorder, Team Games, Film, Radio, Latin and Football clubs. We have several workshops planned to help immerse our students in their class topics. We have also started the Daily Mile in

31 SCHOOLS NEWS school to raise awareness of the importance of staying fit and active. As part of Black History month, in late October we will Banana Moon Nursery have a whole school Education group workshop based around This month we have African dance. had a wonderful Our first school event is Harvest Festival on Friday 4 addition to our October when we will collect dry goods for our local food outside area. The bank. very talented Open day for the community and prospective parents is partner of one of on Tuesday 15 October 9.30-11.30am. Please phone the our senior nursery school for an appointment to see our school in action! nurses has made us our very own ‘Banana Moon Mud Kingham Primary Kitchen’ for our Time has flown! School holidays seem a distant memory and beautiful outside lots of learning has taken place across the whole school in the area. All the children time we’ve been back. benefit from this new area created in our garden. The babies School Open Mornings: Thursday 17 October and Friday love getting muddy and the pre- schoolers love creating mud 22 November. Kingham Primary School invites parents, carers pies and experimenting with different outdoor ingredients. and their children The benefits of allowing children to explore and play through to meet the a mud kitchen is that they develop in sensory play, role play, headteacher, staff imaginative play, maths and hands on exploration and and governors, investigation. view our reception If you would like to see our Mud Kitchen in action please class and tour our book a personal tour by contacting info@bananamoon- exceptional village chippingnorton.co.uk or call 01608 223120, we’d love to hear school in an out- from you. standing rural Our rooms are Baby Moons (3 months to 18 months), setting. Reception Mini Moons (18 months to 30 months) and Full Moons room places are available for immediate in-year admissions or (30 months. up to 5 years). We are open 51 weeks of the year, children due to start September 2020. Open mornings start 7.30am till 6.30pm and provide home cooked hot Lunch and with a talk by the headteacher at 9.15am and tours last Dinners. around an hour. Nursery Open Morning: Friday 18 October. Kingham Primary School invites parents, carers and their children to Hidden Beauty meet the headteacher, staff and governors, view our nursery class and tour our exceptional village school in an outstanding 8 Middle Row rural setting. Nursery sessions are available for mornings, Chipping Norton afternoons or full-days for children from the age of three. 0X7 5NH Tours are available between 10am and 11am. 01608 643862 Call the school office on 01608 658366 for further Email: [email protected] information or email [email protected] Website: www.hiddenbeautyoxfordshire.co.uk Hair and beauty boutique in the heart of Chipping Norton Offering a wide range of beauty and hair treatments. Hair services Nail treatments Environ Facials Waxing Lashes & brows Competitive prices We pride ourselves on our quality standards and customer care For queries, questions and more information, feel free to get in touch today.

32 SCHOOLS NEWS

The Town Nursery Kingham Hill School We would like to As Kingham Hill GCSE pupils opened their envelopes today, wish all the children nearly half the grades they saw were 9-7 (49%). Headmaster who have moved on Nick Seward to pastures new the said, ‘This is a best of luck and testament to thank all the the excellent children and parents teaching pupils for lots of lovely have received gifts and kind words and of course about the care they the hard work have received at The that they have Town Nursery. undertaken in Over the preparing for summer months the their exams’. children have all As well as enjoyed watching securing fan- the progress of the tastic grades as building work taking a cohort, this is place in the field and are all very keen to ask Dan, the builder a story of individual success with over 10% of pupils securing questions about what he is doing (see picture above). a perfect set of 7-9 grades (A* to A). Jack Pitman-Wallace, The whole nursery has now transitioned to their new who received a spectacular 5 Nines and 3 Eights, said, ‘I rooms with everyone settling into their new environments hadn’t really considered that I would do so well! I am really and routines smoothly. happy and would like to thank all my teachers for their In Nursery School 3 we will be observing the children support’. exploring their new environment enabling us to set specific Head of Sixth Helena Berkeley is looking forward to goals and targets for each child based on their individual welcoming pupils into the Sixth Form, which celebrated its preferences and choice of play. We are looking forward to own record breaking results day last week. ‘I am delighted for getting to know all the new children and watching them every one of these pupils and I can’t wait to start supporting develop and flourish throughout the year. them as they embark on the next stage of their lives.

33 LETTERS

County money and Chippy traffic circumstances for pupils being picked up, but at a time when I understand that Oxfordshire County Council will benefit very Chippy is already way over the legal limit for air pollution and substantially from the sale of land for the new Tank Farm kids supposedly being less active, perhaps this needs some development. However, they apparently cannot afford the small consideration and encouragement from the schools? cost, an estimated one thousandth (0.1%) of the sum they stand Mark Moodie to gain, necessary for signage to divert HGVs from our town. I Walterbush Rd bus shelter – pro and con! feel it is not unreasonable that at least 20% of the money made I was disappointed from developing our town and damaging the beautiful Glyme to read that the Valley be spent on the further option of an HGV bypass to police have opposed reduce traffic and pollution. The HGV bypass plan would also reduce the need for the link road across the valley, allotments the reinstatement of and Memorial Wood. However this may not be in the interests the bus shelter (‘Bus of the developers and the OCC as the link road may well allow Shelter: another U- space for further house building in the future in Chippy. I do turn’, p8 September hope OCC and our councillors continue to do their best to News). If there is a conserve beautiful Chippy for future generations. problem with Cathy Elliott antisocial behaviour, Banbury bus changes why should the Demanding the re-instatement of the elderly (some of I have just contacted Stagecoach as the 488, which serves shelter last winter whom moved into Chippy to Banbury has had its timetable altered. The Hailey Avenue and Cotswold Crescent around the same time timetable has remained unaltered for several years, but as my late parents in the late 1950s and early 1960s), and those apparently changes were made that came into effect on 1 with very young children have to wait for a bus in the cold and September. Being disabled meant that I could not just pop wet? I suggest that the police round up the little darlings, and as home and wait for another bus, and so whilst waiting at the there is no police station in the Town, take them to Banbury for bus stop, a lady came up to me and said that several people caution and leave them waiting in a cell while their parents had been caught out like me. As the bus is once an hour and endure the inconvenience of having to collect them. After all, it takes quite a time to get to Banbury, I feel that Stagecoach is they who have failed to discipline their children. I suspect one should have made more effort to let the people of the Town or two trips would resolve the problem. know of the changes. I hope that it is not an attempt to make Graham White, Kingham people who rely on buses feel second class citizens, because (resident of Hailey Avenue 1958-1984) they are unable to access private transport. Nor an attempt I think it is disgraceful that our old people’s health should be to cut the service, saying that people do not use it. put at risk from bad weather because of no bus shelter. Why Kim Simkin do we have to suffer because of youngsters’ antisocial (See article p8 on Banbury bus timetable changes. Ed) behaviour? Where are all the parents? Royal British Legion events Disgusted, aged 85 (name and address supplied) The CN Branch of the RBL will be holding its Annual Regarding the bus shelter, I am disappointed to keep seeing Remembrance Day Parade and Service on Sunday 10 this argument over and over, and Cllr Laetisia Carter November. The Service in St Mary’s Church will start at 10 expressing concern that the public petition and users’ views 45am. Please contact Carol Peachey on 07785 770812 if you are being ignored! What about the families who have to put require a wreath. The Two Minutes Silence at the Town War up with the antisocial behaviour? Is it right to ignore them and Memorial in London Road is on Monday 11 November at their views instead in favour of a new shelter! 11am. Please be at the War Memorial by 10.50am. The Branch Nearby resident, name and address supplied and Club‘s AGM at the Crown & Cushion is on Tuesday 19 November at 8pm. All are welcome. Leisure Centre gym users lose out Mike Dixon, Secretary CN Branch RBL Chipping Norton is lucky to have a leisure centre with an Worcester Road speeding excellent gym. Chipping Norton School have always had sole use of the gym on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9am I am growing increasingly more concerned about the speed of to 1.30pm, which is not ideal for members but we have got the traffic along the A44 (Worcester Road). I regularly take my Godson to the playground there, and the speed of vehicles used to it. This year, however, it has changed, and the School passing is very concerning, especially given the number of have sole use four mornings a week from 9 to 11am, a peak pedestrians nearby. The speed camera down the road doesn't time for members. Many older people use the gym at this seem to be working, so perhaps the Council should look at time, as well as parents after their children have gone to some other traffic calming measures? school. I have queried this timing with the Leisure Centre Sean Herdman-Low general manager who says the timing was decided between the School and GLL (the owners of Better, who operate the Car pick-ups at school gym). Why on earth were members not consulted as to a I would like to raise the issue of the number of people who more reasonable time (early afternoon perhaps) when the appear to pick up children from school by car now, especially gym doesn't have so much usage? It makes it very hard to at the secondary school. Is this not what the buses are for? If justify paying an annual membership when there are these it's pupils living in Chippy being picked up then that raises a restrictions Most other local gyms are available all day. even bigger issue. I appreciate there maybe exceptional Pat Housden

34 LETTERS

Thames Path charity success empty premises to promote or sell their work during the pre- WE DID IT! On Christmas period. It would require co-operation from the the very sunny landlords but if you don’t try an alternative to the problem of weekend of 7/8 closed and uninviting shop premises, things will never change. September, with Judy Buckingham aching legs and a few blisters we Climate change – whose evidence? completed the In reply to the two letters published in response to my 100km Thames original letter, regarding my source material. The background Ultra Challenge, information about volcanoes is taken from the course books from Putney needed to gain an Open University degree. Other details are Bridge to Henley- taken from various documentaries produced by the United on-Thames and States Geological Survey, the National Geographic Society, the raised £2000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. A massive thank you Discovery Channel and PBS America. My investigation into to everyone who sponsored us for such a worthy charity. alternatives to oil were based on work undertaken by myself Anyone that would still like to donate please visit our web and fellow students when studying for an AMIMI (Associate page justgiving.com/teams/Nickschicks19. Thanks again. Membership of the Institute of the Motor Industry, equivalent Angela Sivell, Paula Smith & Caroline Bott to a BSc). Given the oil shortages in the 1970's we were investigating alternative fuel sources. Battery technology at Space and ideas for Pop-up shops the time ruled out stored electricity as a power source, Almost every month the News comments on empty shops in however, a hydrogen fuelled turbine, driving an alternator, and the Town. It’s a nationwide problem. High rents, rates and electric motor seemed a viable alternative. While I have no up competition from out of town and online shopping have been to date sources, those quoted are hardly guilty of ‘bad blamed as contributory factors. About 20 years ago, a lady science’. Indeed, they are recognised throughout the world who was retiring and owned a small shop on Topside offered for the quality of their research in their fields. I am happy to a group of crafters, including myself, the use of the premises meet other correspondents to chat about the issues. It is my for a few weeks before Christmas. I think we covered the opinion that the current alternatives, particularly lithium electricity bills and kept the place clean and tidy. Nowadays, batteries, may be as bad or possibly more damaging to the this would be called a ‘Pop up Shop’. It suited both parties and environment than the oil they seek to replace! has become an idea taken up mainly in the bigger towns and Jim Stanley cities. Doing a little basic research, there are more (See also p6 for latest news on Chippy’s Climate Change action Ed) requirements to initiate this kind of arrangement, obviously a formal agreement, insurance and health and safety issues as The Chipping Norton News Team welcomes letters but well as a friendly and co-operative landlord/owner. Perhaps in reminds writers that name & address must be supplied a small community like ours, there could be a possibility of and that the opinions expressed are not those of the Team. such a project. Local groups, charities, artists etc. could use ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Chipping Norton News Club Tel: 01608 643219 Email: [email protected] Twitter: www.twitter.com/chippynews Blog: www.chippynews.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/chippynews

Editorial Team this edition: Judy Buckingham, Christine Clinch, Malcolm Glenn, Lindsay Johnstone, Nigel Rose, Keith Ruddle & Jill Thorley November deadline: Friday 11 Oct Section contacts: Arts - Gay Holden (643635), Blog: www.chippynews.org, Final copy should be sent to Chipping Norton Sports - Graham Beacham (810047), Schools - Clare Davison (642373) News, c/o Hill Lawn House, 22 New Street, Contributors: Graham Beacham, Charlotte Bird, Frances Buckel, Judy Chipping Norton, OX7 5LJ tel/fax 643219. Items Buckingham, Christine Clinch, Clare Davison, Kaye Freeman, Malcolm Glenn, should preferably be typed, on disk or sent via Sue Hadland, Chris Hogan, Gay Holden, Alison Huitt, Lindsay Johnstone, Jo email to [email protected] McVicker, Roger Sinclair, Linda Rand, Carole Rose, Nigel Rose, Keith Ruddle, Sales Outlets and Subscriptions: You can buy the News at the following outlets: Sam Stretton & others where stated. Aldi Bartholomews The Blue Boar Caffè Nero The Chequers Co-op Foodstore Production & proof-reading: Jill Thorley, Judy Buckingham, Vivien Heyes, Co-op Pharmacy, Costa Coffee, Cotswold Newsagent Costcutter CN Health Centre. Lindsay Johnstone, Jo McVicker, Carole Rose, Deb Webb & David Woolley CN Hospital CN Post Office Crown & Cushion Gill & Co Guildhall One Stop Shop Distribution: Jill Thorley (643219) Judy Buckingham, Judy Donegan, Gay Holden, Alison Hidden Beauty Highlands Day Centre Jaffé & Neale CN Leisure Centre Old Mill Bistro New St Dental Surgery Porcupine Sainsbury’s Spar at Esso West Street News Huitt, Linda Rand &, Carole Rose Café de la Post, Chadlington Advertising & Club Treasurer: Sandra Cash (07787 925133) If you are unable to get to any of the outlets you can have the News posted to you. Send Printers: KMS Litho (737640) a cheque for £20 annual subscription, made payable to The Chipping Norton News to The editorial team welcomes articles and letters (names supplied please), but reserves the right Gay Holden 3 Cox Lane, Chipping Norton OX7 5YA to edit or cut depending on space available. While taking every care to check accuracy we cannot Advertising and Sponsorship take reponsibility for errors which might occur. Opinions expressed in contributions are not The Chipping Norton News, with a circulation of over 2000, welcomes financial support necessarily those of the Editorial Team. The News does not endorse or accept liability for any from local businesses. For information about advertising (from £35 for an eighth of a products or services provided by advertisers. The News is published monthly (except January page) please contact Sandra Cash (07787 925133). and August) by the Chipping Norton News Club which is voluntary and non profit-making. The Chipping Norton News is printed on environmentally approved paper

35 Lido’s Summer send off The end of another summer season at Chippy Lido was marked by the now traditional dog swim. As ever, it brought together a marvellous mix of mutts and was great fun.

Thanks to all who came to what is fast becoming one of our most successful fundraisers. Looking ahead to the next one, The Lido is delighted to report that has agreed to reprise his role as auctioneer at an Auction of Promises in the Town Hall on Friday 15 November. Tickets for The Grand Auction will soon be available from Jaffé & Neale Bookshop and Fibreworks. Priced just £17.50, including wine and nibbles, this will be your ticket to a highly entertaining evening in the company of a local, and sometimes controversial, celebrity, who always seems to thoroughly enjoy the eclectic selection of lots that go under his gavel. Spread the word, buy tickets for friends and family, and look out for further details on the website, chippylido.co.uk, facebook, Twitter and Instagram (just look for ChippyLido). Claire Williamson

DIARY

October (News out Monday 30 September) 20th Apple Day at the Community Orchard noon-3pm 1st Railway Club 7.30pm Lwr Town Hall - see p24 see p6 2nd U3A 2.30pm Methodist Hall 21st West Oxon WI 7.30 St Mary’s Parish Rooms see p25 N Oxon Organic Gardeners meeting see p28 CN Amateur Astronomy Group 7.30 Methodist Hall 5th Chipping Norton Arts Festival see p19 see p28 Gt Rollright Village Market 9.30am-12.30pm Village Hall 24th CN Flower Club 7pm Town Hall - see p24 Back to the Fifties with Martin Hannant 7.30 Methodist 26th Sunshine Cat Rescue Jumble sale 11am-2pm Town Hall Church see p20 Cat food donations welcome 6th Rambling Club Meet 2pm New St Car Park see p24 28th Chipping Norton News Team Meeting 7.30pm Cuppa, Cake & Chat 2.30-4pm Methodist Church see p25 Chequers Barn – come along and find out how your 7th Urgent Care Hub launched at CN Health Centre – community newspaper gets made – call 643219 for details no more Walk-in Clinics - see p16 for details Kingham & Burford Rotary details p25 th 9 Methodist Coffee Morning 9.30-11.30am for Open Doors November (News out Monday 28 October) th 10 CN Amnesty 7.30 Lwr Town Hall - see p26 2nd Dementia Info Session 2.30-4.30 Charlbury - details p16 th 11 CHIPPING NORTON NEWS DEADLINE see p35 3rd Rambling Club Meet 1.30pm (note change of time) Screen by the Green, Churchill: All is True see p9 New St Car Park see p24 14th Local History Society 2pm Methodist Hall see p26 Deadline for return of Xmas Shoe Boxes see p9 Folk Club 7.45pm in Enstone see p28 Cuppa, Cake & Chat 2.30-4pm Methodist Church see p25 15th CN Probus 11am Crown & Cushion details 645382 or visit www.chippingnortonprobus.com see p25 16th Horticultural Assoc 7.30pm Methodist Hall see p27 No 18th Great Rollright Bingo 7.30pm see p7 for details Christmas in Chippy 19th Farmers Market 8.30am-1pm Bryncoch Male Voice Choir 7pm Methodist Church this year! see p13 for details Christmas in Chippy promises to be Chippy’s Got Talent Concert7.30 St Mary’s Church back even bigger & better in 2020 see p9 for details

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